How do I use the NHS Global Directory to find my colleagues?
Finding your colleagues is simple with Pulse Health App. Click on ‘Directory’ and either go to ‘My Organisation’ to search for users in your registered organisation, or if you are searching for a colleague at an external organisation, you can click on ‘NHS Global’. Type the name in the search box or use the filters to filter down your search results.
How do I know if my colleague has downloaded Pulse Health App?
In the directories, you will see multiple contact entries. If an ‘Invite’ option appears next to a contact, this means they are not yet a Pulse Health App user and can be instantly invited to download and use the app. If they do not have an ‘Invite’ button, they are a Pulse Health App user, and you can immediately start communicating.
How do I invite multiple colleagues?
Find the first colleague you wish to invite and click ‘Invite’. Once complete, search for your next colleague and click ‘Invite’. Simply repeat these steps to invite multiple colleagues to Pulse Health App.
Can I communicate with colleagues outside my organisation?
Of course. We actively encourage communication across multiple organisations to deliver effective and efficient care to patients.
How do I add colleagues to ‘Quick Contacts’?
On the chat dialogue screen, click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner. Click on ‘Add to Quick Contacts’. You will be able to see a list of ‘Quick Contacts’ within the ‘Directory’.
How do I know if my message has been delivered/read?
Click on the sent message, then click on the (i) button. We also have a coloured dot. Amber means delivered. Green means read.
Click on the message, then click on the star icon. You can view your starred messages by clicking on ‘Settings’ and going to ‘Starred Messages’.
How do I reply to a message?
Click on the message you wish to reply to, then click on the left pointing arrow to quote the message.
How do I forward a message?
Click on the message you wish to forward, then click on the right pointing arrow to forward the message. You can either select the chat or select one of your quick contacts.
Click on the three dots (or + icon on iOS) in the corner, then click ‘New Group’. Create a ‘Group name’, upload a group icon, then click ‘Next’. You will then be able to add participants by selecting the squares. Click ‘Next’, then ‘Create’.
How do I broadcast a message?
Click on the three dots (or + icon on iOS) in the top right-hand corner. Click ‘New Broadcast’. Type in the ‘Broadcast Name’. Click ‘Next’. Add participants, click ‘Next’, then ‘Create’. You will see a broadcast has now been created in your chat dialogue. You will now be able to broadcast a message to your broadcast list. A reply will come as a direct message.
How do I invite colleagues to a group?
Select the group chat you wish to invite your colleague to. Open the chat dialogue. Click on the group name. Then click ‘Add Participant’.
How do I make a voice call?
Click on a user’s contact or open your chat dialogue. Click on the telephone icon to make a call.
How do I make a video call?
Click on a user’s contact or open your chat dialogue. Click on the video icon to make a video call.
How do I make a conference call?
Currently Pulse Health App supports conference calling up to eight people. We will be increasing this in the near future. To start a conference call, simply go to the message group you wish to call. Alternatively, if this is a new group, you will need to create a new group. A third option is to start a call and add people to the call using the ‘Add Participants’ option.
How do I add participants to a call?
Whilst on the call screen, you will see an option to ‘Add Participants’. Simply click on this option and select the participants you wish to add to the call.
Open the chat dialogue, click on the three dots, then click ‘email chat’. Please do not share via unauthorised email service systems. You are a data controller under GDPR guidance in that instance. You have a legal obligation and legal responsibility to look after you patient’s or client’s data.
How do I send an image / video?
You can either send an image or a video from your camera roll, or take an image or a video through the application. To send an image/video from your camera roll, click on the attachment icon, then click ‘Gallery’. To take a photo/video, select your camera. Always take clinical images via the application in order for them not to sync with your camera roll.
Click on the attachment icon and select ‘file/document’.
How do I send a voice memo?
Click on the microphone to record a message. Once finished, click ‘Send’.
How do I delete a message?
Select the message you wish to delete. Click on the trash can icon.
You can set your status manually or automatically. Simply go to ‘Settings’, then click ‘Status’. You can toggle between ‘Manual Status’ or ‘Automatic Status’. ‘Manual Status’ sets your status indefinitely. Alternatively, you can set up your working hours through ‘Automatic Status’. You will be able to set statuses such as ‘At Work’, ‘On Call’ and ‘Offline’, so you can get the best out of Pulse Health App and separate your work life from your personal life.
How do I get support or provide feedback?
Click on ‘Settings’, then go to ‘Support’ or ‘Feedback’. Click on ‘Support’ if you are having an issue with the application. There is a 1,000-character-limit text box and the ability for you to share screenshots with us to help with your problem.
Alternatively, if you would like to request a new feature, provide feedback, or just want to say how much you like Pulse Health App, you can do this by clicking on the ‘Feedback’ option.
How do I change notifications?
On certain devices, you will be able to change your notification sound and vibrate options. You will also be able to mute notifications, but we would advise against this, as you may miss important messages.
How do I change my password?
If you are using NHSmail, you can change your password through the NHSmail portal. If you are using federated access, you can change your password by clicking on ‘Settings’, then ‘Change Password’. Your password is required to be a minimum of eight characters and must include a special character, number and capital letter.
Click on ‘Settings’, then ‘Log Out’.
How is Pulse Health App secure?
Pulse Health App is fully end-to-end encrypted. We have various cyber security accreditations, and we follow NHS and ICO information governance guidelines as well as UK Data Protection Law and GDPR. For security details, please click on the ‘Security Centre’.
How do I report a data breach?
You can report a data breach by clicking on ‘Settings’, ‘Support’, then ‘Report a Breach’. Alternatively, you can report a data breach via this website within the ‘Security Centre’, or email pulse.health@nhs.net.
How is Pulse Health App different to WhatsApp and other providers?
Pulse Health App has been specifically designed for the NHS. We are the only provider with a Full NHS Directory. This allows you to find your colleagues instantly. You will not need to share your personal number with anyone. You can separate your personal messages from your work messages.
WhatsApp is great; it is the pinnacle of a communication tool. But it is built for personal communication and is not designed for the NHS and Social Care environment. Use WhatsApp for your personal communication and separate your personal life from your work life. Trust us; you will be thanking us soon enough.
Can I share Patient Identifiable Data (PID)?
Yes. Our end-to-end encryption is safe for PID.
Am I allowed to use Pulse Health App?
Of course. Pulse Health App is freely available to all NHS and Social Care workers.
Are the communities secure?
Absolutely. The Pulse Health NHS Communities are fullyend to end encrypted, safe for patient identifiable data, and completely secure for NHS & Social Care use.
How do I access NHS communities?
Click on the waffle icon and select ‘NHS Communities’. To switch back to the chats screen, click on the waffle icon again and select ‘Chats’. The waffle icon allows you to toggle between services.
Can I create my own community?
Yes, of course. You can create a community for any topic, interest, or activity. Communities can range from social communities to operational communities (e.g. On-Call Team)
Can I delete my community?
To delete a community, you will need to be an admin of the community. On the community info page, click on ‘delete’. This request will be sent through to the Pulse Health admin team who will review the request and delete accordingly. You will not be able to delete a community yourself as once it’s gone we cannot bring it back.
How do I create a community?
Click on the ‘+’ icon and click create community.You will need to have a community name, community type, and description. You can also add a profile picture and add users whilst creating a group
How do I join a community?
Click on a community name and you will be taken to the ‘community info’ page. Click on ‘Join’
How do I search for a community?
Click on the ‘+’ icon and click search. Use the search bar and toggle between host organisations. You will be able to search communities from your organisation or NHS global communities.
What is a private community?
Communities that can hold private discussions. Safe for patient identifiable data, and for clinical and non-clinical use. Users can be invited to join or request to join. If requested to join, the community admin can accept/reject the request.
What is a public community?
Communities that are open to all users of Pulse Health App. Communities can be hosted in your organisation or available for all NHS users. Users are able to join instantly and do not require admin approval to join.
Unique communities that are owned by ‘publishers’ creating exclusive and interesting content aimed at NHS & Social Care staff. Channels can be private or public. And can be NHS global or hosted within an organisation.
In a channel, only admins can post content and are in full control. Subscribers to the channel can comment and like.
How do I create a channel?
Channels are restricted to invite only. If you are interested in owning a channel please contact us through Pulse Health App or email us at
pulse.health@nhs.netHow do I assign administration rights to a community?
To assign admin rights to a user within a community you will need to go to ‘community info’. Within the ‘community users’ section you will see a list of community users. Long press on the users name and click ‘Assign Admin’
How many admins can a community have?
Unlimited
How many users can join a community?
Unlimited
Can I limit a group to my organisation?
When creating your community, you will need to select organisation, and select your organisation. Your organisation is automatically selected from your registration details (your domain name, or NHSmail organisation).
How do I create an NHS global community?
When creating your community, select ‘NHS Global’ from the ‘select organisations’ options.
Click the ‘+’ icon and select ‘new post’. You can type a message and add up to 5 images. (note: you will soon be able to add videos and polls). Then select the community you wish to write your post to.
From ‘your feed’, you can use the text box to comment. Alternatively, you can click on the post to take you to the post thread, and use the text box to comment
Click on the like button. To unlike, click on the like button again
How can I control notifications?
On the community info page, select the settings icon. Click on notifications. You will be taken to a notification settings screen in which you will be able to toggle notifications on/off by community and type.
How do I invite users to a community?
On the ‘community info’ page select the ‘add user’ icon (user with a +). You will then be able to add users directly from the NHS directory.
How do I share a community?
On the community info page, click on the share icon. You will be able to share the direct link to the community through a number of external applications
How do I remove users from a community?
You can only remove if you are an admin for that community. To remove a user from a community you will need to go to ‘community info’. Within the ‘community users’ section you will see a list of community users. Long press on the users name and click ‘Remove from Community’.
What if my organisation on my NHS.net email is not the same as the one I am working for?
In order for you to join a community group in an organisation you are working for, you will need to have your NHS.net email organisation corrected. Please liaise with your IT department to help you with this.