A method of establishing a communications link between an implanted medical device and a remote electronic device , the method comprising: transmitting an initiation signal via a first communications system over a first communications channel from the implanted medical device to the remote electronic device to initiate the establishment of the communications link; transmitting a confirmation signal via the first communications system over the first communications channel from the implanted medical device to the remote electronic device to confirm the communications link; and communicating over a second channel between the implanted medical device and the remote electronic device , wherein communicating over the second communications channel comprises generating transmissions through a second communications system having a longer range than the first communications system ; wherein the communications link is only established if communications over both the first and second communications channels are successful; and at least one of communicating over the first communications channel and communicating over the second communications channel comprises exchanging between the implanted medical device and the remote electronic device at least one identifier for the communications link, so that pairing the implanted medical device with the remote electronic device is carried out by bringing them into sufficiently close proximity that a signal transmitted on the first communications channel by the implanted medical device can be received by remote electronic device without further user initiation of the system necessary, wherein communicating over the second channel comprises: transmitting a pair request signal from the remote electronic device to the implanted medical device upon the remote electronic device receiving the initiation signal from the implanted medical device ; transmitting an acceptance signal from the implanted medical device to the remote electronic device upon the implanted medical device receiving the pair request signal from the remote electronic device . transmitting an initiation signal via a first communications system over a first communications channel from the implanted medical device to the remote electronic device to initiate the establishment of the communications link; transmitting a confirmation signal via the first communications system over the first communications channel from the implanted medical device to the remote electronic device to confirm the communications link; and communicating over a second channel between the implanted medical device and the remote electronic device , wherein communicating over the second communications channel comprises generating transmissions through a second communications system having a longer range than the first communications system ; wherein the communications link is only established if communications over both the first and second communications channels are successful; and at least one of communicating over the first communications channel and communicating over the second communications channel comprises exchanging between the implanted medical device and the remote electronic device at least one identifier for the communications link, transmitting a pair request signal from the remote electronic device to the implanted medical device upon the remote electronic device receiving the initiation signal from the implanted medical device ; transmitting an acceptance signal from the implanted medical device to the remote electronic device upon the implanted medical device receiving the pair request signal from the remote electronic device . <EOS>