Launch of new online patient portal for our gender identity clinic

To help improve access to your health information, service users at our gender identity clinic (GIC) will soon be able to access a range of information and communications relating to your care online using our new patient portal. This will help you keep up to date with our progress in delivering your care in an efficient and timely way.

We are aware that people wait for a long time for an appointment at the GIC and recognise the need to improve the frequency and quality of our two-way communication with service users, particularly while you are on the waiting list for treatment. Acting on your feedback, our new patient portal aims to address the following issues;

• Patients have felt uncertain if they are still on the waiting list. You will now be able to confirm you are on the waiting list and have an idea of where you are
• Help improve the quality of contact and health data we hold about you and ensure it is up to date by allowing you to update this yourself
• Reassure you and provide advice if you are feeling frustrated and powerless during your time on the waiting list
• Recieve timely information relating to your care during your time on the waiting list and before upcoming appointments

As part of the new patient portal, you’ll be able to receive brisk communications from our team through secure instant two-way online messaging, as well as be able to be sent and to access;

• Appointment reminders
• Confirmation, cancelation and re-arrangements of appointments
• Explainer information about your treatment
• Links to online, virtual consultations
• Letters and assessment forms
• Updates on our waiting times.

You’ll be able to access your information using the patient portal on all of your devices, including your mobile phone, tablet and personal computer, so you can communicate with us in whatever way suits you best.

Other methods of communication including by post or email will still be available if you prefer.

What these changes mean to you

You will be invited to create an account on our new patient portal, which we encourage everyone to use and therefore benefit from the increased communication channels on offer.

We will contact you to confirm the move to digital communication. This will include instructions of how you opt out of this form of communication should you not wish to access and receive digital communications.

There won’t be any change in who we share your information with. It’s the same level of confidentiality that we’ve always applied.

Future improvements to our online service

We want to continue improving our digital service, and continually improve our new patient portal platform. In 2025, our patient portal will be integrated with the NHS App, allowing you to access all of the information about your care with us as well as from your GP*.

*Availability of your GP health information within the NHS App is provided and managed by The Department of Health and Social Care along with medical records provided by many hospital Trusts.