SMS patient messaging

Sharing Accurx text templates between GP practices

There is now a much easier way to share Accurx text templates across GP practices in North Central London.

Instead of each practice manually creating or updating templates, a new tool can automatically add or remove them across multiple practices, whether that's with a Primary Care Network (PCN), a whole borough, or all of NCL. This saves time and ensures everyone is using the same, high-quality messaging.

Review the templates that are already available.

Got a template others could use?

Do you have a great template that others could benefit from? Submit a request to share it across your area.

How to get involved

If your practice hasn’t already done so, add the email address 93capp.ncltexttemplates2@nhs.net as a user in Accurx. Refer to the guide on Accurx Web: Managing users in Workspaces for instructions on how to take action.

If you have already added the email address 93capp.ncltexttemplates@nhs.net, you’re all set—no further action is required. A second account has been added because Accurx has a limit to 100 practices per email address.

This initiative is an excellent way to ensure that important messages, such as asthma follow-up reminders or safety netting advice, are easily accessible and consistent across different teams.

For further information or assistance with getting started, contact Toby Gould, NCL ICB Clinical Lead for Children & Young People in Haringey.

Being SMS smart

Over the past few years, practices have been using text messages more and more every day to communicate with patients. Text messages have helped GPs work faster, more efficiently, and with more impact in the population. However, every message sent incurs a cost. To help ease the financial burden of messaging, the Digital Team is asking practices to take some easy steps to reduce costs.

See the Being SMS smart infographic for ways guidance on reducing SMS costs.

For further information or assistance, contact the Digital Team via nclicb.digitalfirst@nhs.net

Accurx SMS Plus

Accurx messaging is a communication tool available to practices to reach patients digitally.

SMS Plus allows practices to:

send one-way messages
send two-way messages which allow patients to upload pictures/documents
send attachments to patients
access Florey Questionnaires.

The Accurx toolbar can be downloaded from the Accurx website. Contact the support team via the Accurx Help Centre.

iPlato

iPlato is commissioned by NCL for sending patient appointment reminders via text message. To log in, visit the iPlato website.

The iPlato myBuddy toolbar allows practices to send a text message to a patient or arrange a video consultation. Download the toolbar from the MyGP website.

Practices can increase their QOF points and reduce admin burden by using iPlato patient questionnaires.

The support team can be contacted via e: help@iplato.com or t: 020 3743 0060.

The iPlato customer success manager for NCL is Khalima.shakir@iplato.com

Training sessions are available on request.

Review date: Saturday, 01 August 2026

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