Over 7,000 patients on text service

DHSC stopped posted letters in March

Around 1,300 people have signed up to receive text message alerts at Island hospitals in the last three months.

The service for outpatient appointments now has 7,060 signed up to it, something the health department has described as a 'significant increase' since June.

Reminder letters by post were stopped by the DHSC in March as a cost-saving measure.

Those using the text service are sent a confirmation alert three days prior to their scheduled appointment.