Every NHS hospital trust in England is now connected to the NHS App, allowing millions of patients to check their referrals and appointments digitally. The milestone marks a major step in the health service’s shift away from paper-based systems toward digital patient care.
Around 64% of all hospital appointments are currently visible through the app, with many patients also able to reschedule or cancel appointments directly. This digital approach is helping hospitals reduce missed appointments while cutting costs from paper letters and text messages.
The expansion comes as the NHS faces mounting pressure to reduce waiting lists and improve efficiency. Digital tools like the NHS App are becoming central to these efforts, freeing up staff time that can be redirected toward patient care. The app also gives patients more control over their healthcare journey, allowing them to manage appointments, prescriptions, and test results from their phones.
Usage numbers show the app’s growing importance in how people access healthcare. Some 41 million people are now registered, with more than 15 million logging in during March alone. That represents a 33% increase in monthly active users compared to the previous year. Prescription orders through the app also jumped by more than a third over the same period.
The timing aligns with the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which prioritizes digital transformation across the NHS. This push toward digital services aims to reduce administrative burden on staff while making healthcare more accessible for patients. The approach could prove particularly valuable for younger patients who are already comfortable managing other services through mobile apps.
Jules Hunt, Director General of Technology, Digital and Data for the NHS, highlighted the efficiency gains: “This is a great example of how we’re transforming patients’ experience of healthcare and using digital technology as part of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan. The technology is helping to reduce missed appointments and freeing up vital NHS staff time so they can tackle waiting lists more effectively.”
Current app features include:
- Viewing hospital referrals and appointments
- Ordering repeat prescriptions
- Accessing test results and patient records
- Patient messaging with healthcare providers
- Push notifications for appointment reminders (available at around half of trusts)
- Access to health documents like discharge summaries
The app’s reach extends beyond basic appointment booking. Patients at all acute NHS trusts commissioned for adult services can now view their referrals and appointments, with 8.7 million views recorded in March – a 93% increase from the previous year.
Looking ahead, the NHS plans to add follow-up appointment requests and access to specialist care through a new online hospital service. NHS Online will launch next year, offering digital triage through the app and video consultations with doctors. This service aims to speed up specialist care by connecting patients with expert clinicians across England, regardless of geographic location.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister, emphasized the broader impact: “Fewer missed appointments means more patients getting the treatment they need, sooner. The NHS App is central to our ambition of shifting the NHS from analogue to digital and giving the patient more control.”
The app recently received a design update to make key services like prescriptions, appointments, and test results easier to find from the homepage. These usability improvements could drive even higher adoption rates as the NHS continues expanding digital services across the health system.