Dental patients now receive appointment reminders by SMS

Western Sydney public dental patients can now receive appointment reminders via text message.

This free SMS reminder service is available to all Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) dental patients who make appointments for oral health services at Westmead, Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals.

WSLHD Oral Health director Dr Josephine Kenny said the service provides more than 500 appointments daily for bookings such as general dentistry, relief of pain and specialised dental care.

“Patients are now sent automatic text messages 14 days in advance, and then two days prior to their scheduled appointment,” Josephine said.

“Before our text message reminder system was in place, our staff contacted each patient either by phone or sent them an appointment letter in the post.

“We found that some patients were difficult to contact and prefer to receive their reminders by text message.”

Patients with booked appointments will also receive a COVID-19 assessment asking them about their health prior to their appointment.

“We’ve received lots of positive feedback from our patients about the new SMS system,” Josephine said.

Westmead Centre for Oral Health patient Hanane El-Achi has praised the dental service for implementing the SMS appointment reminder service.

“I love it and I also received my appointment letter in the mail,” Hanane said.

“I received an appointment reminder message two weeks before my appointment and then two days before. Now I’ll never forget to go to my appointment.”

For more information about the Westmead Centre for Oral Health, please click here.