Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) have announced that patients will now be able to use their NHS login to access their MyCARE patient portal.

Provided by Induction Zesty, the MyCARE digital patient portal is able to integrate with the trust’s Cerner Millennium electronic patient record (EPR).

The ability for patients to access the portal with the same NHS login that they already use for their GP and other NHS services will make it even more accessible as they no longer need to set up separate login credentials.

MKUH has become one of the first in the country to offer this option on the portal, with the move supporting the organisation’s success in unlocking the cost-savings and efficiency that comes with converting patients to digital access. This success was recognised earlier in 2022 when the hospital received GDE accreditation.

Professor Joe Harrison, chief executive at MKUH, said: “MyCARE has really helped patients to manage their own healthcare.  By empowering them to see and change their appointments on the portal, we have seen our Did Not Attend (DNA) rate drop by 50% compared to appointments for patients not using the portal.

“This, coupled with the ability to send users their hospital correspondence electronically, has really helped to improve the experience of our patients whilst also enabling the hospital to save money that can be reinvested into patient care.   

“The portal is already easy to use and by allowing patients to use their single, secure NHS login the process is now even more streamlined and we’re confident it will encourage more of them to sign up and use MyCARE.”

The Induction Zesty patient portal allows patients to manage their appointments, view their letters and clinical records, and provide data remotely via digital questionnaires. Following the MKUH implementation, Induction Zesty will be rolling out NHS login integration will all customers over the coming weeks.

Andreas Norgren, director of product at Induction Healthcare, said: “We’re excited to support the NHS in its digital transformation.  NHS login is a landmark moment – it’s a huge step forward technically that doesn’t just build patient trust and engagement but paves the way for future innovation via SSO.”