Kent and Medway mental health appointments launch online

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has a launched My Health and Care Record to give patients online access to their mental health appointments.

The trust provides a range of children, young people and adult mental health, learning disability and eating disorder services to its local population of 1.8 million people in Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey.

My Health and Care Record, which went live on 8 April, is aimed at giving patients more control, improving engagement and streamlining administrative tasks for staff.

Patients can view their appointments online through the record and the NHS App, along with additional patient reported outcome measures and experience measures.

Nina Phoenix, chief nursing information officer at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “My Health and Care Record is a significant step in our digital transformation.

“It is changing how we involve people in their own care by giving them secure access to information, helping them prepare for appointments, and enabling more meaningful conversations with clinicians.

“One example of this is that our patients will be able to complete their DIALOG scores before their appointment, freeing up valuable time and ensuring conversations focus on what matters most to them, truly putting the patient at the centre of the care we provide.”

The programme was developed in partnership with Care for Kent and Medway and is powered by Patients Know Best. From June 2026, patients will also be able to access documents and care plans.

A pilot phase showed that 65% of eligible patients registered, 25 percentage points higher than the planned 40% target. More than 18,000 appointment booking have been shared via the portal since December 2025.

The pilot also found that around one-third of registered users accessed the portal weekly, demonstrating strong engagement and interest in managing their own care.

Previously, appointment details and documents were only sent by post, which could cause delays and missed appointments. Staff also spent considerable time responding to telephone queries.

By integrating the portal with electronic patient records, appointments are now shared automatically online.

Patients will receive an email invitation to register, with an easy opt-out.

Meanwhile in February 2026, mental health provider Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust announced that it had partnered with DrDoctor to offer appointment notifications through the NHS App, allowing patients and staff to manage appointments, receive digital communications, and complete forms online.