Why are my letters so colourful?
Your letters have been processed by BetterLetter, a software application used by your GP practice to manage all of the letters they receive from hospitals, clinics and other healthcare organisations each day.
What is BetterLetter?
BetterLetter is an AI-powered tool that helps your GP quickly process the clinical letters they receive. By highlighting important information and suggesting the right SNOMED codes, BetterLetter saves time and ensures your health records are always accurate and up to date.
What happens to my data?
Your letters are received by your GP practice as usual. BetterLetter automatically processes them and securely files them into your GP’s electronic health record system. Your data is always encrypted—both in transit and at rest—and can only be accessed by trained staff for the sole purpose of managing your letters.
How does BetterLetter work?
1.
Your GP receives letters as usual
Whenever you visit A&E, see a specialist, go to the optometrist, call 111, or interact with any part of the NHS, a summary of that visit is sent to your GP. Every letter must be added to your health record, and any important details about your health are extracted as structured data to ensure you get the right care when you need it.
2.
BetterLetter gets to work
BetterLetter uses advanced AI to match each letter to the correct patient and highlight important details like diagnoses, procedures, medication changes, and test results. It also flags any next steps or actions your GP needs to take, ensuring nothing is missed in your care.
3.
The information is double checked by a person
Trained clinical coders use BetterLetter to review and approve the AI’s suggestions. They can also add extra codes or highlight additional information when needed. This 'human in the loop' approach ensures your health records are always accurate and complete.
4.
Your letter is filed and medical record updated
Once reviewed by a clinical coder, your letter is securely filed in your medical record. The important information is added to a consultation note, making it easy for your GP to access when needed. A full audit trail is maintained to track how your data has been processed, ensuring transparency and security.
Frequently asked questions
Is BetterLetter free?
BetterLetter is completely free for patients. We license our software to your GP practice, PCN or local NHS Trust, who maintain care records for their registered patients.
How is BetterLetter keeping my data safe?
BetterLetter keeps your data safe by processing it in a high security cloud environment. We have multiple cybersecurity certifications, including DTAC, Cyber Essentials, DSPT and SOC II. We undertake regular penetration testing, and where we transmit data with your GP Practice we do so within the NHS's virtual private cloud (the HSCN).
What is the legal basis for your processing of my data?
We are a data processor who holds and processes data only at the specific instruction of a data controller (i.e. your GP practice). We sign a Data Processing Agreement with each data controller that contains specific instructions about the means and the purpose for which we will process data on their behalf. The legal basis for the processing is the consent granted by patients to the data controller for the purpose of the provision of healthcare services.
Can I opt out of BetterLetter processing my data?
Yes - please send us an email on hello@betterletter.ai and we can add you to a exclusion list so that if we come across one of your letters we can return it to your GP practice for them to process manually.
Want to learn more?
Please email hello@betterletter.ai and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
