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https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/18/gov-uk-notify-is-available-for-the-public-sector-to-use-for-emergency-staff-communications/

GOV.UK Notify is available for the public sector to use for emergency staff communications

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: GOV.UK Notify

The homepage of the GOV.UK Notify service. The header image says "Send emails, text messages and letters to your users. Try GOV.UK Notify now if you work in central government, a local authority, or the NHS." There are links to create an account or sign in if you've used it before. There are tabs at the top to different sections on support, features, pricing, documentation, and sign-in. The beginning of a new section under the header displays. The text says "Control your content. You do not need any technical knowledge to create email, text message or letter templates." There is an illustrative screenshot of adding a text message template to the right of the text.

GOV.UK Notify – the government’s messaging platform – is available for all public sector organisations to use for emergency staff communications and business continuity messaging. This is particularly relevant in the ongoing situation with Coronavirus.

With such high unpredictability around Coronavirus and the measures organisations may need to take to protect their staff and the public, it's critical we are prepared to quickly and reliably communicate important messages.

GOV.UK Notify is completely self-service. Teams in public sector organisations can create accounts and start sending emails and text messages within minutes.

Public sector organisations include:

  • central government departments and agencies
  • local authorities
  • NHS Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups and other regional NHS bodies
  • GP surgeries 
  • emergency services
  • government-funded schools, colleges and universities

You don’t need any technical expertise to use GOV.UK Notify. Simply create a templated message, upload a spreadsheet with contact details, and press ‘Send’. You can upload the spreadsheet in advance or when you’re ready to send.

It’s also possible to integrate your back-office systems with GOV.UK Notify if you prefer.

A screenshot of a template titled "Example emergency staff communication". The layout is like for an email, with fields for From (Notify Demo Service), To (email address, highlighted in yellow, to signify it will be filled in using data from an associated spreadsheet), and Subject (Staff alert: Central Town Hall is closed due to a gas leak). The body of the message has a Title (Central Town Hall closure), and the body reads as follows: "Dear ((name)), Please avoid travelling to Central Town Hall until ((date)). The building is closed while a gas leak is being fixed. You should make arrangements to work from home until ((date)). Please reply to this message to confirm you have received it. Thanks, ((team leader))." All items in brackets are also highlighted in yellow, as they will be filled in with data from the associated spreadsheet.

If you need people to acknowledge your messages, you can specify an inbox for email replies to go to, and GOV.UK Notify will collate text message replies for you.

Sending emails with GOV.UK Notify is completely free. Each team also gets an allowance of free text messages – beyond that each text message costs 1.58p + VAT. You can see more details on our pricing page.

To find out more about GOV.UK Notify and to create yourself an account, visit www.gov.uk/notify

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6 comments

  1. Comment by Pedro LEON posted on

    Excellent!!! Atte: Pedro LEON

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  2. Comment by Angeline moore posted on

    Hi I’m on universal credit my gas cooker has gone wrong what help can I get plZ

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  3. Comment by Jess posted on

    Im an ambulance drive for the nhs its very bad at the moment but I won't to thank you all for now sta at home

    Link to this comment

  4. Comment by M. A. H. ALTAF posted on

    I am a Social Worker an NGO's & Media Person.

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    • Replies to M. A. H. ALTAF>

      Comment by Jess posted on

      Hi I no its dad thanks you

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