What is HealthWatch?
HealthWatch is a free service that gives you access to your medical records and can help you find out about events such as clinical trials. It's confidential, safe, and secure - HealthWatch just sends them an email to confirm who you are.
What is HealthWatch?
A new secure medical messaging service that helps you get in touch with your doctor from home and sign up for email alerts when things change in their care plan for you. You can also download, print, and store copies of letters and put in your own messages.
HealthWatch is a secure online messaging service for GP patients. It works with NHS England's Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to provide a confidential service that allows you to send messages directly to your GP surgery or care home. This means that if you're too ill or can't come into the surgery, you don't have to phone - just use HealthWatch instead. Only those people who log in can see your messages - this might be doctors and nurses at your practice or a member of staff at a care home where you live.
What can I do on HealthWatch?
Once you register, you can ask the practice to let you know when things in your care plan change. This might be when test results are available, when it's time for a review appointment or if further appointments are needed. You can also print or download copies of letters and reports about tests, treatment, or appointments - just select 'Do not print' under the heading 'Print this message'. This means that if you're away from home, someone else can take these messages with them. Do I need access to a computer? No – all you need is an email address provided by your GP surgery. Can I use my mobile phone? Unfortunately not – HealthWatch works through NHSmail which doesn't support mobile phones at moment. But please don't let this stop you from getting in touch with your doctor.
Background information:
Healthwatch is a confidential service designed to help GPs provide better care for patients who can't come into the surgery or need to stay in bed and rest at home because of illness. It works by allowing patients to email, download letters and reports about tests, treatment, or appointments. Letters are double-signed so they're just as valid as if you'd posted them - please don't alter or copy these messages without permission.
A new secure medical messaging service that helps you get in touch with your doctor from home and sign up for email alerts when things change in their care plan for you. You can also download, print, and store copies of letters and put in your own messages.
HealthWatch is a secure online messaging service for GP patients. It works with NHS England's Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to provide a confidential service that allows you to send messages directly to your GP surgery or care home. This means that if you're too ill or can't come into the surgery, you don't have to phone - just use HealthWatch instead. Only those people who log in can see your messages - this might be doctors and nurses at your practice or a member of staff at a care home where you live.
What can I do on HealthWatch?
Once you register, you can ask the practice to let you know when things in your care plan change. This might be when test results are available, when it's time for a review appointment or if further appointments are needed. You can also print or download copies of letters and reports about tests, treatment, or appointments - just select 'Do not print' under the heading 'Print this message'. This means that if you're away from home, someone else can take these messages with them. Do I need access to a computer? No – all you need is an email address provided by your GP surgery. Can I use my mobile phone? Unfortunately not – HealthWatch works through NHSmail which doesn't support mobile phones at moment. But please don't let this stop you from getting in touch with your doctor.
Background information:
Healthwatch is a confidential service designed to help GPs provide better care for patients who can't come into the surgery or need to stay in bed and rest at home because of illness. It works by allowing patients to email, download letters and reports about tests, treatment, or appointments. Letters are double-signed so they're just as valid as if you'd posted them - please don't alter or copy these messages without permission.
Final Thoughts
The information provided by Healthwatch is not very specific and doesn't mention the various benefits of using this service. It does supply a link to their website, however, which does provide more detailed information for patients.
The benefits of Healthwatch seem like a great idea! Being able to communicate with your doctor without having to leave home or call over the phone sounds wonderful - I could so use that kind of service! One limitation mentioned in the article is that you need a computer... but I use my tablet and mobile phone to get connected, so this isn't really an issue for me (it does mention how you can print or download reports 'just as if they'd been sent by post, which would be nice - my tablet doesn't have a printer).
The information provided by Healthwatch is not very specific and doesn't mention the various benefits of using this service. It does supply a link to their website, however, which does provide more detailed information for patients.
The benefits of Healthwatch seem like a great idea! Being able to communicate with your doctor without having to leave home or call over the phone sounds wonderful - I could so use that kind of service! One limitation mentioned in the article is that you need a computer... but I use my tablet and mobile phone to get connected, so this isn't really an issue for me (it does mention how you can print or download reports 'just as if they'd been sent by post, which would be nice - my tablet doesn't have a printer).