Digital letters are hospital letters (for example, appointment or clinic letters) that you can read safely online, instead of waiting for them to arrive in the post.

Digital letters help us:

• Send information to you faster, so you have more time to get ready for your appointment

• Reduce problems like letters getting lost, arriving late, or arriving in the wrong order

• Use less paper and postage, which is better for the environment and helps keep more NHS money for patient care

You can still get paper letters if you want. You may also get a paper copy if you don’t open your digital letter. See the questions below for details.

The portal is a safe online service where you can read your letters and manage your appointments. It is run by DrDoctor for RJAH.

You can use the portal by tapping a safe link we send you by text message or email, or by logging in directly. Your letters stay in the portal, so you can read them again whenever you need to.

The NHS App is a useful place to see information from across the NHS. But it cannot connect directly to every hospital system. The Patient Engagement Portal helps send information from our hospital systems into the NHS App.

If you use the NHS App, you can read your letters and see appointment details there. If you don’t have the NHS App, or you’d rather not use it, you can use the safe link we send by text or email. Both ways show the same information.

We will send you a text message. If we have your email address, we will also send an email. The message will tell you there is a new letter and will include a safe link to the portal. If you do not open it, we may send a reminder the next day.

1. Tap the safe link in your text message or email. This opens the patient portal.

2. Tap "View letter" and log in using your last name, date of birth, and postcode.

3. Your letter opens as a PDF. If it does not open, check your Downloads folder on your device.

You can also log in at any time by clicking here on any device. For safety, we will text you a one-time code when you log in this way.

The portal needs to check it is really you before it shows your health information. It asks for your last name, date of birth, and postcode. These must match the details we have on our hospital records.

If your details are not recognised, please call us so we can check and update your details if needed.

At the moment, the portal is only used by some hospital services. More services will be added over time. If your service is not using it yet, you will keep getting letters in the post as normal.

If your service uses the portal but you are not getting texts or emails, please call us. We can check we have the right mobile number and email address for you.

Yes. You can get paper letters in these ways:

• If you do not open your digital letter, we will automatically send you a paper copy.

• Reply "PRINT" to the text message to ask for a paper copy as well as the digital one.

• Reply "STOP" if you want to stop getting digital letters. After this, we will send paper letters each time.

• You can also change your choice in the portal. Log in, go to Settings (top right), and switch paperless on or off.

Usually, no. If you open your digital letter, we will not send a paper copy. If you do not open it, we will send a paper copy to you.

If you want both a digital and a paper letter, reply "PRINT" to the text message. We will post a paper copy as well as keeping the digital one. This also saves your choice for future letters.

You can switch back at any time:

• Reply "DIGITAL" to your most recent text message from us.

• Log in to the portal, go to Settings (top right), and turn paperless back on.

Yes. The portal uses secure, NHS-approved technology. Each time you log in, it checks your identity. Your information can only be seen by you and the hospital staff involved in your care.

You can use the portal on a phone, tablet, or computer. You do not need to download an app. Just tap the safe link in your text message or email, or open it in the NHS App.

If you have problems using the portal, or you have questions about what your letter says, please call the hospital on 01691 404000. Ask to be put through to the department your appointment is with.