Our Future Health expands use of SMS via GPs to make it easy for people to take part, supported by iPLATO
Following on from the initial roll-out in Greater Manchester, iPLATO continues to support Our Future Health in expanding the use of SMS text messages to help with volunteer recruitment in nine regions across the UK, with more to follow.
To invite people to join Our Future Health, iPLATO will send SMS text messages and provide supporting coverage on the myGP app, across Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Solihull, London, the Black Country, West Yorkshire and Leeds.
iPLATO is a healthcare technology company based in the UK, specialising in digital patient engagement, having worked with the NHS and in UK healthcare for nearly 20 years.
iPLATO’s multichannel patient communication
Our Future Health’s partnership with iPLATO will benefit from their relationships with GP practices, whilst using their communications channels to invite patients to join the programme. Currently, 33 million people across the UK are connected to iPLATO communication services.
This service will ask GP practices in participating regions to allow iPLATO to send their patients an invitation to join Our Future Health. Patients of GP practices who provide consent will receive an SMS text message. This is in line with the relevant data permissions, inviting them to learn more about Our Future Health and the opportunity to take part. Additionally, patients using iPLATO’s healthcare app, myGP, will be able to explore the signup process. App coverage includes push notifications to users who have push notifications enabled on their devices.
The myGP app connects GP practices and patients. It allows patients to discover local healthcare services, book GP appointments, manage their prescriptions more effectively including ordering and tracking adherence, plus access to medical records. Doctors can also communicate with their patients and conduct remote consultations through the app. Nearly 2.7 million people use myGP across the UK.
Dr Raghib Ali OBE, Chief Medical Officer of Our Future Health, said: “We’re excited to be expanding our work with myGP as we want to make it easy for as many people as possible to join Our Future Health. Every person who joins the programme is playing an important role in helping to transform how we prevent, detect and treat diseases and we are incredibly grateful for their contribution.”
Tobias Alpsten, Founder and CEO of iPLATO said: “Ensuring patients of all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds are accessed and invited to partake in the UK’s largest research programme is truly ground-breaking.”
“Our ongoing work with Integrated Care Boards and our GP relationships around the country means we are supporting the programme to grow strong representative volunteer recruitment numbers.”
Joining the programme
Appointments to join Our Future Health are currently available in a number of regions across the UK, with more locations to be added in the coming months. People living outside of regions currently participating can register to be notified when appointments are available near them.