Bulk SMS for NHS and Healthcare Providers

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Why Bulk SMS Matters in NHS Communication

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With ever-growing demands on healthcare services, the NHS requires agile, reliable communication tools that reduce missed appointments, improve patient outcomes, and operate within tight budgets. Bulk SMS offers the ideal solution — delivering fast, direct, and cost-effective communication to millions of patients every week.

Over 98% of SMS messages are opened, and 90% are read within three minutes. These metrics are unbeatable when compared to email, phone calls, or postal communications. Whether reminding patients of an upcoming appointment, sharing test results, or launching a public health campaign, SMS allows for efficient and timely engagement.

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Integration with SystmOne, EMIS, and MJOG

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QuickSMS integrates directly with major NHS clinical systems, including:

• TPP SystmOne

• EMIS Web

• MJOG

• AccuRx

• Patient Access

• Vision and others via API

Through our secure API and web platform, NHS trusts can automate SMS workflows based on triggers from these systems. For example, messages can be sent based on appointment bookings, cancellations, or test result updates — ensuring that patients stay informed without manual effort from clinical staff.

This level of integration also ensures compliance with NHS data governance policies. Patient records are not exported unnecessarily, and all messages sent via QuickSMS are logged for audit purposes.

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ISO 27001, 9001 & NHS Data Security Compliance

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Compliance is critical in the healthcare sector, particularly when dealing with personal and sensitive information. QuickSMS leads the UK SMS industry in certifications:

• ISO 27001: Information Security Management

• ISO 9001: Quality Management

• ISO 14001: Environmental Management

• ISO 45001: Health & Safety Management

• Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus

• NHS DSP Toolkit-compliant

This means NHS organisations can trust that messages sent via QuickSMS are handled securely, processed in GDPR-compliant environments, and managed according to industry best practices.

In addition, QuickSMS only uses Tier 1 UK carriers, ensuring message delivery remains within UK borders and under strict latency, encryption, and failover standards.

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Appointment Reminders and Health Campaign Messaging

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One of the most common (and effective) uses of SMS in the NHS is appointment reminders. Missed appointments cost the NHS an estimated £1 billion annually. Using SMS reminders has proven to significantly reduce DNAs (Did Not Attends) — particularly in high-pressure departments like Outpatient Clinics, GP surgeries, and specialist clinics.

Key campaigns supported by QuickSMS include:

• Routine appointment reminders

• Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination outreach

• Cervical and breast screening invitations

• Prescription collection notifications

• Patient satisfaction surveys

• Mental health check-ins

All messages can be personalised and scheduled in advance, with optional two-way messaging enabled so patients can confirm, cancel, or reschedule in real time.

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Real-Time Reporting & Delivery Insights

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QuickSMS offers a real-time reporting dashboard tailored for NHS usage. Key metrics include:

• Delivered / undelivered message rates

• Message open and response rates

• Time-of-day optimisation

• Audit logs for internal governance and DSPT compliance

This data allows NHS teams to identify trends, refine patient engagement strategies, and report outcomes to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), or NHS England.

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Case Study: NHS Trust Reduces DNAs by 23%

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An NHS Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester partnered with QuickSMS to reduce their outpatient DNA rate. By implementing automated reminders through SystmOne integrated with our SMS API, they achieved:

• 23% reduction in DNAs within 12 weeks

• £78,000 in clinical time saved

• Improved patient satisfaction scores by 14%

• Increase in rebooked appointments by 19%

This was made possible by QuickSMS’s reliable delivery, personalisation features, and same-day technical onboarding.

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Why Choose QuickSMS for NHS Messaging

Here’s how QuickSMS outperforms other providers like FireText, Textlocal, or VoodooSMS when it comes to NHS communication:

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Getting Started: NHS Procurement and Buying Routes

QuickSMS is available on several UK procurement frameworks, making it simple for NHS organisations to onboard:

• G-Cloud via Crown Commercial Service

• NHS Shared Business Services (SBS)

• Direct Award / Sole Supplier routes

Our procurement and onboarding team can assist with DSP Toolkit documentation, DPIAs, and contract compliance. We also provide a full onboarding guide and technical API documentation for NHS IT teams.

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