Our care
Why we sometimes contact you first
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By Penrose Health
Most GP care works by waiting for you to get in touch. We do that too. But we also work the other way round.
The limit of only waiting is that the people who slip through are often the ones a check would help most: someone managing a long-term condition quietly, or who never noticed the reminder, or whose life is simply too busy to ring. So, using our own records, we find patients who are due a review and we reach out first. A text, a message on the NHS App, an email, a phone call. Whatever it takes to reach a particular person, because no single channel reaches everyone.
This matters most for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, where a missed review is not a minor thing. When we focused on our patients living with diabetes, we invited everyone who was overdue, and within a few months far more were getting the checks that keep them well. Across our practices in one recent six-month period, working this way led to around twelve thousand extra check-ups.
"The reviews that prevent a stroke or a hospital stay are rarely the ones patients chase. So we chase them," says Dr Catriona Brodie, Lead GP.
We are honest that we do not reach everyone yet, and we keep adding ways to get in touch. No one should miss a check because a letter went to an old address, or a call came mid-shift. Reaching out, in more than one way, is how we try to care for everyone.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Sarah Hawxwell, GP and Partner, June 2026
Common questions
Why did my GP contact me when I feel well? Because our records show a routine check or review is due. Catching things early is one of the most useful things we can do.
Is the message genuinely from my practice? Real Penrose messages direct you to book through your practice or the NHS App, and never ask for bank details. If unsure, call your practice to check.
Related: Find a practice · Patient Zone · NHS App.