Help

General

  • How can I be sure my information will be safe?

    myhealth@QEHB uses security systems like those used in internet banking, so your information is safe, so long as you keep your login details secure. As with any secure website, you should log out each time you leave the site and be careful with your password.

    Your healthcare information is only loaded into myhealth@QEHB once you’ve signed up to use the system and given your consent for your records to be added to the site. You can have all of your information removed if you change your mind.


  • If I sign up now, how far back will my records go?

    Only letters written internally, that is within the Trust, from 1 June 2012, will be available for patients in the portal. It’s an easy way of looking at letters, paper free.

    You can check what’s been written and recorded about your appointments and treatment and may be useful if you have forgotten or missed something that was mentioned during your consultation.


  • I’m not a medical expert: how will I know what my results mean?

    Blood results are checked for a number of reasons and your doctor should explain what he or she is testing for. While interpretation should be left to medical professionals, a basic understanding of blood tests is important if you want to take a role in your medical care. Most blood results contained within this site are accompanied by a short explanation of their meaning. If you are concerned about your blood tests, contact your doctor or another health care professional.


  • Will I be able to access my GP records through the site?

    No, only correspondence and records generated by the Trust are available to view through the portal – plus any external documentation that you chose to upload to add to your myhealth@QEHB records.

    Your GP records are on a different system so you must contact your GP surgery to access that information.


  • Will my GP or clinician be able to see my information?

    Your GP and clinician will not have automatic access to your portal. However, you are able to share information contained within myhealth@QEHB should you choose to do so. However, you should only give access to individuals who you wish to assist you with managing your care: in most cases this would probably be a carer or family member.

    If you allow third parties to access your site using your user identification and password, they will be able to access all of your personal information and upload material as if they were you.


  • Will I still get paper copies of my letters?

    Yes, in the short term you will still receive correspondence in the form you received it prior to signing up to myhealth@QEHB.


  • If I use the site, does this mean I don’t have to attend appointments if I don’t think they are necessary?

    Any decision not to attend an appointment should be made jointly with your consultant. Even though you may feel an appointment is unnecessary, it may still be important for you to attend clinic.

    However, the portal does allow you to play a greater role in managing your treatment and it may be possible to avoid travelling to a routine clinic that was scheduled some weeks or months previously if everything is going well and your results are normal.

    If you are not intending to attend a scheduled appointment, please advise the clinic in advance so that another patient may be seen in your place.


  • Will I be able to see future appointments?

    Appointment letters will be available to view on the portal so you can keep a check on when you are due to attend clinic. Please contact the Trust if you are unable to attend so that another patient can be seen in your place.

    The 'My calendar' function allows you to see appointments easily without the need to keep track of paper appointment letters, which can easily be misplaced.

    You can plan months ahead to check against holidays and work commitments, allowing you to reschedule where necessary.

    Knowing that future appointments will automatically appear in myhealth@QEHB gives you extra peace of mind in managing your treatment.


  • What do I do if I spot information that isn’t correct?

    You will be able to update and correct some elements yourself, for example, information contained within your profile or bio (biography). However, some elements will not be accessible to amend, in which case you should contact the system administrator by emailing Myhealthsupport@uhb.nhs.uk


  • What if I want to contact the clinical team direct to talk about my condition?

    Where our site allows you to send a message to one of our clinicians, we do not guarantee a response. In cases where urgent care is required, you are advised to contact your GP or A nd E if an emergency. If you have an administrative query, you should email Myhealthsupport@uhb.nhs.uk


  • If I upload information or change My profile, will the Trust have access to this new information?

    Yes, the changes you make will be matched in your Trust records, enabling you to keep our staff up-to-date with additional or external information you choose to share. This will not happen automatically but when you make a change it will trigger an alert allowing a Trust clinician to incorporate the information into your patient record as they see fit.

    Please note, any changes will not automatically update your GP practice records as they use a different system. You will have to contact them direct to make any changes in the records they hold for you.


  • What is the ‘Bio’?

    This page is unique to you. Anybody within your support network can view this page and users who aren't in your support network can visit it but will not see your information, except your name, profile picture and any personal greeting. They will also be given the option to request permission to add you to their support network.

    If you want to keep this page completely hidden, you can set this by editing your profile and updating your preferences.

    Under the 'My bio' tab you’ll find a useful journal tool which allows you to note how you are responding to treatment, record your progress and, if you choose, you can share this with other users. You could even show it to relatives, perhaps in other parts of the country or world, to keep them up-to-date with your progress.

    When you are seen at another clinic, or at an unfamiliar hospital or surgery, you could also show it to staff there.


  • How often should I use myhealth@QEHB?

    It’s up to you – as much or as little as helps you to monitor and manage your condition. Usage will very much depend on the individual. Early feedback suggests some people use the portal once every few weeks; others when they need to update medication and bio; many when they have had a recent appointment or have an upcoming appointment. Engagement with other patients through your support network may mean you are regularly communicating with them, as you would through social media.

    However, if you have not used myhealth@QEHB a for three-month period, you will be notified by email and encouraged to login. If you do not login within one month of receiving this email, your access to the system and account will be closed down.


  • How can I find out more about using the portal?

    There are a number of video training guides which demonstrate how to use myhealth@QEHB and how to get the most use out of it, depending on your individual needs. They will assist you in navigating your way around the site and reaping the most benefit for your condition


  • Why would I want to use myhealth@QEHB?

    Initial feedback indicates multiple benefits for patients who have used the portal. It gives you more control over your care, improves your NHS experience and, if you have a complex condition(s) and undergo regular tests, it could make your life much easier.

    You may have to travel some distance for your care in Birmingham. Having remote access to your own records, being able to see letters and blood results in an accessible format, can give you peace of mind without having to attend clinic or even make a phone call.

    The system should also improve communication between healthcare professionals and, as a patient, you will be able to show your record to any doctor or nurse you choose.

    Most importantly, the system will improve your understanding of your condition and its management. There will be links to reliable information about your treatment and condition and you can build networks with people who may be going through something similar.


  • Why can’t I see my blood pressure results straightaway?

    If you add a blood pressure result it will appear the following day because the system is refreshed overnight.

Videos

  • Why can’t I watch the video user guides?

    If the videos won’t play, you probably don’t have the latest version of Flash Player installed. You can download the Flash Player for free from the Adobe website.

    If you’ve installed the latest version of Flash Player and the videos still won’t play, please email myhealthsupport@uhb.nhs.uk


  • Which video user guides are available?

    • Registration – see how to register to use myhealth@QEHB
    • Login – this video shows you how to log in once you’ve registered
    • My Health Today – take a tour around your myhealth@QEHB home page
    • Medication – understand your medication page and see how to record your own medication details
    • Results – see how to use the results viewer
    • External blood results – this video show you how to log your own blood results
    • Inpatient history – see University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s record of your inpatient history and record your own from other hospitals
    • Contacts – learn how to update your healthcare providers’ contact details
    • Calendar – see how you can add events, appointments and reminders to your myhealth@QEHB calendar
    • Vault – this video shows you how to upload documents and images that can become part of your medical records
    • Profile – how to update your personal information, including your username and password
    • Bio – see how you can update your online biography and post journal entries
    • Favourites – learn how to add a page to your myhealth@QEHB favourites
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