NHS app ahead of target with 30 million sign-ups

The NHS App has reached a new milestone as it records over 30 million sign-ups since it launched in 2018. 

There were seven million sign ups to the service in 2022 meaning the government has already reached its goal of having 68% of people in England registered before the set target of March this year. 

Free to download, the app allows users to interact with NHS services such as GP appointments, health records, the NHS COVID pass and contacting certain GP surgeries and doctors.

Steve Barclay MP, the Health and Social Care Secretary, said: ‘Technology is transforming the way we use the NHS and, with over 30 million sign-ups to the NHS App across the country, including seven million this year alone, there is huge potential to modernise services for patients and staff. 

‘In the last year alone, 21 million repeat prescriptions have been ordered through the app, saving valuable time for clinicians and helping people access their treatment as easily as possible.’ 

New features added to the app will now allow users served by 20 NHS trusts across England to view referrals and hospital appointments, book COVID vaccinations and book, cancel or change appointments. Patients at around 2,000 practices can also now receive notification from their GPs such as test results or appointment reminders. 

Dr Vin Diwakar, the Medical Director for Transformation at NHS England, said: ‘It’s fantastic that the NHS App is already in the pockets of millions of people, providing easy access to crucial everyday NHS services like repeat prescriptions and GP appointment bookings.’ 

He added: ‘Our vision is to transform the NHS App into a front door for the NHS, with many exciting new features and changes planned – delivering on the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to continue to harness the power of technology for patients and staff – which remains at the heart of our plans to innovate patient care for the 21st century.’ 

The success of the app also fits into the government’s ‘plan for digital health and social care’ which was revealed last year and named the NHS app and website as key factors in improving access to information for patients. 

You can download the app by searching for it in the Apple App store or Google Play store.

Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq