Why Am I Receiving Notifications About a Healthcare Team I Don't Recognise?

When you receive a notification about a new healthcare team connecting to your Patients Know Best (PKB) record, it can sometimes be confusing, especially if you don't immediately recognise the organiation name. Here's why this happens and what it means:


How Healthcare Teams Connect to Your Record

Information can be sent to your record by multiple healthcare organisations that are involved in your care. A new team connecting to your record means:

  1. They hold information about your care - This organisation has some information related to your healthcare
  2. They want to share it securely with you - They're making this information available through your PKB record
  3. They're part of your wider care network - Even if you haven't visited them directly


Common Reasons You Might Not Recognise a Team

There are several reasons why a healthcare team name might not be familiar to you:


Behind-the-scenes services: 

Many healthcare services work together without patients directly interacting with them:

  • Laboratory services that process your tests
  • Regional diagnostic centers that analyse scans or samples
  • Specialist units that review certain types of results

Organisational structures

Healthcare providers often have complex organisational structures:

  • A hospital you visited might be part of a larger NHS Trust with a different name
  • Services might be provided under contract by another organisation, for example University Hospitals of Leicester are one of the largest renal programmes in the UK, working with satellite units in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northampton and some of Cambridgeshire
  • Regional reorganisations might have changed provider names.

Previous care connections

Teams may connect to your record because:

  • You received care from them in the past (perhaps years ago)
  • Your care has been transferred from one provider to another
  • You're registered in their system even if you haven't received direct care


What to Do If You Receive a New Team Notification

When you receive a notification about a new team:

  1. Register for PKB or log in - This allows you to see which organisation has connected and what information they've shared
  2. Check the team information - Go to Sharing > Professionals to see all teams with access to your record
  3. Review any new information - The team may have added test results, letters, or other updates to your record


If you're still unsure about why a particular organisation has connected to your record:

  1. Contact the organisation directly - They can explain their relationship to your care
  2. Speak with your main healthcare provider - Your GP or regular hospital can often explain these connections
  3. Review your care history - Consider if you've had tests, referrals, or treatments that might involve this team


Managing Team Access to Your Record

You have control over which teams can access your PKB record:

  1. Go to Sharing > Professionals in your PKB account
  2. Find the team you wish to manage
  3. Use the options to Stop sharing if you no longer want them to access your record


Remember: Stopping sharing with a team means they won't be able to see any new information you add to your record, and you won't receive new information from them.