SMS notifications feature for national programmes

[jamestynan-content]

Description

Feature by messaging needs section (campaigns/event/direct messaging)

In Message channels > NHS App section - added some content explaining how SMS notifications feature works and that it's available to eligible national programmes

Features by message channel - NHS App

Added content in 'push notifications' section explaining the feature in more detail and which national programmes are eligible for it

Using NHS Notify - Delivery times

Added content under new sub-heading "If recipient has push notifications turned off" that explains SMS notifications feature.

Added new sub-heading "If recipient has push notifications turned on" and put existing content in this section.

New and upcoming features

Edited existing content to clarify it's available to eligible national programmes (not "all users")

Context

"SMS notifications" is a new feature available to eligible national programmes. It went live in April 2026.

If a user receives an NHS App message but does not have push notifications turned on, they will receive an SMS message prompting them to go to the App and read the message.

The feature will be made available to more/all sectors later in 2026.

This content explains the feature and who it is/is not available to.

Type of changes

• [ x] Refactoring (non-breaking change)
• New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
• Breaking change (fix or feature that would change existing functionality)
• Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)

Checklist

• [ x] I am familiar with the contributing guidelines
• [x ] I have followed the code style of the project
• I have added tests to cover my changes
• I have updated the documentation accordingly
• This PR is a result of pair or mob programming

---

Sensitive Information Declaration

To ensure the utmost confidentiality and protect your and others privacy, we kindly ask you to NOT including PII (Personal Identifiable Information) / PID (Personal Identifiable Data) or any other sensitive data in this PR (Pull Request) and the codebase changes. We will remove any PR that do contain any sensitive information. We really appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

• [ x] I confirm that neither PII/PID nor sensitive data are included in this PR and the codebase changes.

[stacey-budd]

docs/_includes/custom-components/campaign-feature-list.html
docs/_includes/custom-components/direct-message-feature-list.html
docs/_includes/custom-components/transactional-feature-list.html

Includes push notifications that are sent between 6am and 10pm to support sociable hours

Includes push notifications that are sent between 6am and 10pm to support sociable hours

If push notifications are turned off, eligible national programmes can send a text message (SMS) instead. The text message tells recipients they have a new message in the NHS App.

Maybe better to end both bullets with a full stop, as the second one has two sentences and needs it.

docs/pages/about/new-and-upcoming-features.md

Enabled eligible national programmes to...

The tense of these bullets feel a little 'off' – should we be saying 'enables' 'lets' and 'introduces'?

docs/pages/using-nhs-notify/delivery-times.md

If you send a message outside of these hours, the notification will be sent from 6am.

Does this need to be '... from 6am the following day' ?

We'll make it available to more organisations later in 2026.|

You've already used, "This feature will be available to more organisations later in 2026" on docs/pages/about/nhs-app-messages.md – and I think that's probably clearer.