Accurx and the trust will be working together to embed digital ways of operating across the trust and implement transformatory service redesign, to optimise efficiencies across patient pathways.

As a starting point, the partnership will ensure that all services have basic digital communications in place. Currently, the trust sends all patient letters via post. With Accurx, they will have the ability to send them digitally, via SMS or email.

The trust will also convert paper questionnaires sent to patients via the post into Accurx digital questionnaires sent via SMS or email.

In addition, the trust will also implement automated SMS appointment reminders through Accurx, to help reduce DNAs.

The trust will also ensure that patients who cannot communicate digitally are identified and supported so that no one is missed. 

To ensure waiting lists are up-to-date and accurate, the trust will conduct waiting validation through Accurx. This involves sending batch SMS messages to patients on waiting lists asking if they still need their scheduled appointment or not. If a patient can't or doesn't respond, they remain on the waiting list and will be clinically validated or contacted by phone.

Accurx will also support the trust with transformatory service redesign, to help create capacity by avoiding unnecessary appointments. Accurx will work closely with services to understand their biggest challenges and priorities, and will provide support to implement digital solutions to help address these. This could include using questionnaires to deliver asynchronous follow-ups, with a questionnaire sent via SMS to collect information about a patient's symptoms.

Teams will also explore using patient-initiated contact forms, this might be to self-refer to services, request a follow-up appointment or to ask an administrative query. This will help teams to more easily manage and prioritise inbound requests. 

Julie Crockett, deputy chief information officer at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Accurx will enable our trust to optimise efficiency and develop the technology capabilities of how we communicate across all services and divisions.'

Dr Satya Raghuvanshi, vice-president of clinical at Accurx, said: 'Given how important it is for community and mental health trusts to be able to communicate seamlessly with their patients and primary care, we are excited about the work we're doing with the trust to create additional capacity and deliver a more consistent experience for patients across the NHS.'