Sandwell uses texts for immunisation

Sandwell Primary Care Trust has signed a deal with iPlato to implement its patient care messaging system to remind parents to attend immunisation clinics.

Eight GP surgeries will use the system in conjunction with immunisation records to send parents with children under five texts inviting them to book an appointment for their child’s immunisation jab.

The company believes the service will increase immunisation uptake, resulting in a decrease in the number of children admitted to hospital after contracting a disease.

Tobias Alpsten, managing director of iPlato told E-Health Insider Primary Care: “Due to availability of advanced mobile phones within the younger age groups, we believe that mHealth will have a huge impact on the care provided to children and parents/carers.

“As far as GP led promotion of child immunisation is concerned, we think this should be adopted across the country, partly because it delivers an attractive business case and also because it introduces the mobile health channel to an attractive demographic.”

A similar system is already being used in Southwark and Greenwich. However, the company says it has updated its approach since the first implementation to make it easier for GPs to work with the system.

Alpsten added: “We are working on a large range of projects covering areas from pregnancy to supporting young patients with long term conditions.”

Link: iPlato