Abstract

Email is now the main communication tool for all business sectors despite the fact that there are significant issues surrounding its management, confidentiality, security, legal compliance and long-term accessibility. Within the health sector, it has tended to be utilised as a tool for organisational communications separate from patient management. However, public expectations are changing and already the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has indicated that the provision of some level of patient email service is desirable.