Our SMS provider, Vensa, is now using Whatsapp to deliver messages where possible. Their rationale for doing so is that WhatsApp messages are secure and encrypted, and our patients are less likely to miss them compared with regular SMS, which can sometimes be filtered as spam.

Please be assured that these are not spam, however we are reviewing whether we continue with this approach as we appreciate that this can cause concern for some of our patients.

If you don't want to receive messages in the Whatsapp in the meantime, you can go to the three menu dots on the top right of the chat and choosing 'block'. This will ensure next time you will receive a text message. Patients who don't use WhatsApp will still receive a text message regardless.

Thank you for your understanding while we review this further.