Appointment reminders, invites to well being screenings and take a look at outcomes will now be acquired by sufferers on their telephones.
The federal government says transferring to a extra digital-focused NHS will imply 50 million fewer letters must be despatched out by the well being service, saving an estimated £200m over the subsequent three years.
As a substitute, beneath the brand new plans, tens of millions of individuals might be notified about appointments and different necessary notices by way of the NHS app on their telephone or digital machine.
The app is ready to turn out to be the go-to technique for the NHS to speak with folks, the Division of Well being and Social Care stated.
The adjustments might be backed by greater than £50m funding. It can see a predicted 270 million messages despatched by way of the app this yr, a rise of round 70 million on the final monetary yr, the federal government introduced.
Wes Streeting has stated that is all about modernising, because the NHS “feels so 20th century”.
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The well being secretary has stated he might be reserving his appointments by way of the app, which can release telephone strains for these with out smartphones. Pic: PA
The well being secretary stated: “The fact that people still get letters through the front door, sometimes multiple letters about the same appointment… The NHS has been stuck in the mud when it comes to the everyday technology we use to organise our lives. And that’s why what we’re doing with the NHS app is really exciting.”
Mr Streeting stated the app will make utilizing the NHS extra handy, and provides sufferers extra management, whereas saving cash. He stated these funds can then be invested again into the well being service, to bolster issues resembling frontline care.
Utilizing the NHS app ought to be ‘as joyful as Netflix’
The modernisation of the NHS may even result in fewer missed appointments, and due to this fact get monetary savings that means too, it’s hoped.
In 2023/24, there have been round eight million missed appointments in elective care and nearly one in three folks missed a screening appointment.
Presently, round 20 million folks have opted in to obtain messages from the NHS app.
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Pushed on how the federal government will be certain that no person is left behind, Mr Streeting stated: “If someone like me is booking my appointment through the app because that’s what I prefer to do, [then] that’s freeing up a phone line for someone who wants to get through and talk to a person.”
He added that larger use of the app will give folks extra alternative in “how you want to organise your care”.
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The NHS will depart the ‘analogue age’ behind, Wes Streeting has stated.
The cupboard minister additionally made a daring comparability, saying he needs that the NHS app is as pleasant as utilizing streaming big Netflix.
He stated: “The NHS app actually has more subscribers than Netflix. It would be a really wonderful thing if using the NHS app felt – if not as joyful – almost as joyful as using Netflix.”
Different options within the pipeline – although not but accessible – embody having the ability to add appointments to telephone calendars and request assist from native GPs on the app. Quicker log in strategies, resembling utilizing Face ID, are additionally deliberate.
