News

We have just become the first mental health trust in England to go live with Wayfinder, a digital system connected to the NHS app that allows patients to view their secondary care referrals and bookings. In some cases, patients will be able to to amend and cancel appointments too.

By connecting patients with the appropriate mental health services and specialties and allowing them to view their appointments and referrals, we give them increased ownership of their own care. It aims to improve patient experience by presenting information in a way that is easy to understand and navigate, while reducing administrative processes for staff. 

The system includes tools for data quality review and assurance, helping us to maintain high standards of data quality over time.

How it works 
When a patient wants to view their referrals and bookings, the NHS app gets a summary list from all the connected secondary care booking systems, as well as the national e-Referral Service. The summary list includes a hyperlink for each referral or booking.

If the patient wants more details, they can select the hyperlink. This takes them to the 'patient portal' and displays the referral or booking details. Some patient portals allow them to amend or cancel a booking.

The information is clear, accurate, and meets the Government Digital Service accessibility guidelines.

Why this is great news for patients and staff
— The use of Wayfinder means a better patient experience and improved operational efficiency for staff;

— Patients will experience faster and more efficient access to mental health services;

— The system facilitates better communication between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate information;

— With advanced data analytics, we can create more personalised and effective treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique needs;

— The new system reduces administrative burdens, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care.

Over 75% of adults in England have signed up to the NHS app, and going live with Wayfinder means we can improve service users’ experience by better informing them about their care, and free up resources to allow us more time to care for them.