GP practice SMS messaging
We are sharing the latest SMS fragment data and update on patient messaging within NW London.
Here's a recap and some important points to note:
Recap: Updated SMS Allocation from April 2024 – March 2025:From April 1 2024 to March 2025, the SMS budget decreases to 45p per patient, which is a total ICB allocation of £1.2m for this financial year (only £100k less than the total expenditure across all practices last financial year) Therefore, with similar activity levels as the previous year, we anticipate staying within budget. Each practices’ updated allocation has been calculated based on the latest list size figures as of April 1 2024. As part of Modern General Practice, the National digital tools funding allocation is covering the cost of both Accurx Plus licenses and AccuBook whilst the ICB is covering the cost of SMS fragments (45p per patient) for this financial year. Additional funding, if identified will be added to the budget where appropriate.
Please find attached the SMS fragment allocation for April, May and June 24/25. This data shows the usage of both Accurx and all messages sent via your clinical system, which includes online consultations suppliers. As mentioned this dashboard will be sent out to NW London GP practices each month so that you’re aware of the remaining allowance.
National change in pricing per fragment: From April 2024 all messages sent via the clinical system and online consultation providers have been billed at £0.022 per fragment (160 characters), this is a slight increase from £0.0185. This increase will also be applied to Accurx messages from the 31 August 2024. Messages sent from Accurx will be £0.0225. This increase in price is taking place nationally and is not within the control of the ICB to change. This will not change your GP practice allocation but it may mean that the practices reach their allocation at a slightly quicker rate. We have shown a prediction of GP practice usage on the data dashboard provided.
SMS Usage Dashboards: Practices will receive a monthly dashboard after the 26th of each month containing SMS data from various sources including online consultation suppliers, clinical systems and Accurx for the previous month (e.g. 26th July 2024 will show all of April, May and June’s 2024 data). The graph indicates your current monthly and year to date spend, a comparison to last year’s activity, your allocated budget and forecasted spend against the current allocation. Colum N will show you the percentage of SMS messages sent against your annual allocation, this is colour coded to show how close the GP practice is to reaching your allocation. Please note that if your GP practice is Purple that you have exceeded your allocation.
SMS Webinars for GP practices: To support GP practices with the SMS allocation, discuss the current cap and share ‘tips and tricks’ the Primary Care Digital Transformation and Delivery Team will be hosting a series of monthly webinars. Throughout the year will be have focused webinars for SystemOne and EMIS practices as well as hear from Accurx and the NHS App team. The first webinar will be on Wednesday 14 August from 12-1pm.
Click here: Session Access LinkThere will also be monthly webinars for GP practices that have exceed their SMS allocation. The webinars will take place within 10 days of receiving the new monthly data and practices will receive an email inviting them to the webinar with all joining information.
Overall Budget Breakdown: The total ICB budget for text messaging covers various components, including
AccurX SMS Fragments
Clinical system messages (TPP and EMIS)
PATCHs generated SMS
eConsult generated SMS (in Ealing only)
Accurx Plus licenses, AccuBook functionality
Best Practice Guidance: We encourage practices to review their patient messaging strategies encompassing emails, SMS, and NHS App notifications. Additionally, consider digital literacy and health inequalities when determining the appropriateness of SMS. NWL is developing a comprehensive guide on best practice to ensure SMS is used appropriately with confidentiality and safety in mind.
For any queries, please contact us at nhsnwl.digitalfirst@nhs.net.
Thank you for your continued dedication to safe, efficient, and effective patient messaging.
