Central London Community Healthcare goes live in NHS App

Patients at Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) will be able to view their appointments in the NHS App and receive appointment reminder notifications via their mobile phones due to the implementation of DrDoctor technology. 

Historically, community healthcare has been unable to integrate with the NHS App due to fragmented systems and limited interoperability, as well as difficulties integrating electronic patient record (EPR) systems with other products.

CLCH will accelerated its integration from 17  June 2025 through the DrDoctor  patient engagement portal (PEP), which can receive and relay information directly from CLCH’s EPR.

Andrew Chronias, chief information officer at CLCH, said: “CLCH patients across London will be able to view their appointments in the NHS App and receive appointment reminders straight to their mobile phones.

“This reduces unnecessary printing of letters and SMS text reminder costs and allows real-time updates of any changes, and I encourage all patients to download the NHS App.”

CLCH, which serves four million people across 14 London boroughs and Hertfordshire, says that it is the first community trust to enable patients to view appointments in the NHS App as part of an NHS England Wayfinder pilot which began on 29 May 2025.

Tom Whicher, chief executive and cofounder of DrDoctor, said: “Our hope is this major milestone is the first of many.

“The long-term success of the NHS App relies on both the private and public sector working closely together, to build and integrate for a better future healthcare system.

“We can do brilliant things if we continue to collaborate.”

Work is also underway to connect CLCH’s other EPR system, SystmOne from TPP.

Patients who do not have the NHS App will continue to be notified about appointments by SMS, email and letters, where appropriate and in accordance with patients’ wishes.

James Friend, director of digital strategy at NHS England, London, added: “The NHS App is now a tried and tested best practice way to help get patients to the most appropriate environment for their assessment, treatment and care.

“A huge thank you to everyone at CLCH, DrDoctor and other providers for helping to bring these services to patients in the region.”

DrDoctor is now working with more than 70 NHS trusts and health boards across primary and secondary care.

In May 2025, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust awarded a PEP contract worth £572,000 to DrDoctor.

The supplier’s platform also went live at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in September 2024 in the first stage of a phased roll-out.