More than a quarter of a million patients across mid and south Essex are now using Patients Know Best (PKB) to access some of their health information online.
PKB is a secure online platform that lets you see important health information from hospital and mental health services – all in one place. It’s designed to help you stay informed and involved in your care.
This milestone is the result of close partnership working between Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Together, they’re making it easier for you to access the information you need, when you need it.
By making this information available through the NHS App, the system builds on a tool that many patients already know and trust for managing aspects of their NHS care, such as GP appointments and repeat prescriptions.
What this means for you as a patient
Having access to this information means you can:
- Check your upcoming appointments – for hospital outpatient care and some mental health services, so you know when and where you need to be
- Read your hospital or mental health appointment letters – from some mental health services, including details on what to expect and how to prepare
- See your radiology reports – for tests like X-rays, CT scans and MRIs (if you’ve had tests at MSEFT hospitals)
- Review hospital discharge letters – so you have a clear summary and know the next steps following an overnight stay, day admission or treatment in the emergency department
Whether it’s preparing for an appointment, following up on test results, or keeping track of your treatment, having this information at your fingertips can make life a little easier and give you greater confidence in managing your health.
Exactly what you can see will depend on which NHS services you’ve used, and which organisations hold information about your care. You can find out more about how PKB works and what’s available in your area by visiting:
- More about PKB at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- More about PKB at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
If you’re not yet using PKB, here’s how you can register
You can access PKB in two ways:
- Through the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet
- By visiting the PKB website at https://my.patientsknowbest.com and clicking ‘continue to NHS login’
Once you log in, if information is available for you, it will appear automatically in the NHS App under sections like:
- Hospital referrals and appointments
- Messages
- Test results and imaging
If it’s your first time accessing PKB, you may be asked to set a password for your PKB record. This only takes a minute.
Notifications about new information
Once you’re registered with PKB, you’ll receive automated email notifications from [email protected] whenever new information is added to your record. You can also receive notifications through the NHS App if you have them switched on.
You’re in control
You have control over who can see your PKB record. If you choose, you can securely share your information with family members, carers, or others involved in your care. You can share your full record or just selected parts—and you can change your sharing preferences at any time.
For more help, visit the PKB patient manual.