Online Patient Portal - Patients Know Best

Patients Know Best (PKB) is UHDB's free online patient portal which provides you with access to your personal health records and is designed to improve your patient experience.

It gives you instant access to, and better control of, important information such as, appointment details, appointment letters, clinical correspondence, and a range of test results which have been undertaken at the hospital.

You or your carer will need internet access to use the portal.

UHDB has recently celebrated a huge milestone of over 350,000 patients registering on PKB, with 84% of patients logging in and accessing their health record within 90 days of receiving data.

If you have been a patient at UHDB, you will receive an invitation to register directly from PKB via email, SMS text message, or a posted letter. This informs you that a placeholder record has been created awaiting your registration. The email will say "UHDB has connected your PKB record to a new team that is or has been working with you", or "_____ has invited you to access your medical information to help you manage your health". Please be assured these emails are genuine.

If you have not received an invitation, you can still register via the PKB website > or via the NHS app.

What are the benefits of registering?

Registering with PKB puts information relating to your health in your hands. It is a secure online space which enables you to:

  • access your appointment information digitally, including the date, time, location and who the appointment is with.

  • receive and view hospital related correspondence digitally, including appointment letters and clinical correspondence letters.

  • receive and view a small range of blood results requested by UHDB.

  • share your record with family, carers, and health professionals. This is your choice and can be amended at any time.

  • get instant email notifications when new information is added to your record. Carers you have chosen to share your record with will also receive these notifications.

  • access a library of digital resources, including information leaflets, booklets, and other reference materials, added by your clinical team.

  • record your medical information, such as allergies, medications, and diagnosis information.

  • integrate with devices you use to track and monitor your health i.e. fit bits.

  • record information in your own health journal.

  • access your health information wherever you are 24/7.

 

In the video above, patients and clinicians explain the benefits of using PKB.

 

How do I register?

There are several ways to register with PKB, just choose the one that best suits you. You can register:

  • through the invitation sent to you by PKB via email, text message, or posted letter after you have visited UHDB for treatment.

  • through the NHS app, who will verify your identity.

  • through scanning a QR code displayed in outpatient clinic areas.

  • through the PKB website >.


You will need an email address that is unique to you, i.e. not an email that is shared with anyone else to register for the portal.

How do I access the portal?

PKB is a web-based platform which can be accessed from any tablet, smartphone or desktop device enabled with an internet connection.

Simply use your web browser to log in >.

You can also log in via the NHS app, link your account and receive notifications via the app.

Is the portal safe, and is my information secure?

Yes. PKB is a software provider selected by UHDB to provide a patient portal. The portal meets NHS requirements for health records systems and is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Patient data is encrypted and PKB can only see NHS numbers.

Can a carer or family member see my record?

If you want a carer or family member to see your record, they can be added in the 'sharing' section.

You will have control over the level of access and what they can see.

To invite someone to have access, go to 'Sharing>Friends/Family>Add Carer'.

Complete the form, and an invite will be sent to the carer's email address. If they do not have a PKB account, they will be prompted to set one up.

What is available to see in the portal?

Once you have registered, information from UHDB will start to be populated in the portal, this will include:

  • outpatient appointment information.

  • appointment letters.

  • clinical correspondence letters following an appointment.

  • basic blood results, ordered by UHDB.

Why is the information I can access not the same for all teams treating me?

The use of PKB differs between clinical teams at UHDB.

Some clinical teams are using additional features such as digital libraries, questionnaires, care plans and messaging. If you are unsure what features are being used by any team treating you, please speak to the clinical team.

Why can't I see all my blood results in the portal?

You can see a small number of blood results ordered by UHDB, after 14 July 2025, in the portal.

UHDB are still developing this function, and more blood results will be added to the portal in the future.

All blood tests available on PKB have a delay of 7days placed on them regardless of outcome. This ensures your clinician has time to review the results and discuss with you if necessary. Your clinician will always contact you about any concerning results.

If you have any concerns regarding your results, please contact the clinical team that ordered the test. Their contact details can be found at the top of any correspondence you have received from them.

For help understanding your results, you can access Lab Tests Online, via the link in PKB.

Other frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay for the service?

No, there are no costs to you as a patient. The portal is fully funded by UHDB. Using the portal will help reduce costs such as paper and postage, and these savings can then be reinvested back into patient care.


What if I don't want to use the portal?

That's fine, the portal is being offered as an optional service to provide choice to patients who wish to interact with UHDB in a digital format. If you do not want to register, you do not have to. This will not affect the care you receive from us.


What if I want my information to be removed and not to be contacted about this again? 

This is fine and is your choice. To action this, contact the Portal Enquiries team on 01332 783474. The team are available, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am - 4pm.


Why do I still receive paper copies of some correspondence, even though I have signed up to the portal?

There are some departments of the hospital that do not yet use UHDB's electronic mail provider so are unable to upload correspondence to the portal. UHDB is working hard on enabling more departments to be able use this functionality.

In some instances, departments need to send additional items with the letter, e.g. blood forms, hearing aids or treatment specific leaflets. On these occasions, it is necessary to send paper copies.


Am I able to manage my appointments in the portal?

Unfortunately, this function is not available at this time, however based on patient feedback, this is something UHDB are looking at to see how best to make use of this functionality.


My information in the portal is incorrect, who do I contact?

If any information in the portal is not accurate, contact your clinical team who will be able to help.


I am having technical problems, who can I contact?

For any technical problems, contact PKB directly via help@patientsknowbest.com. You only need to provide your name, the name of the organisation that created the account (University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust) and details of the problem you are having.


Who can I contact for other issues relating to the portal?

For all other issues, including resetting your password and closing your account, contact the Portal Enquiries team on 01332 783474. The team are available, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am - 4pm.


How can I find out more?

If you require further information about PKB as a provider or assurance about the system, please visit the Patients Know Best website > or email enquiries@patientsknowbest.com.