The Prime Minister has welcomed a major milestone in the roll out of the NHS App, as latest data has shown 1.5m appointments have been saved thanks to the Government鈥檚 accelerated rollout of it.
The app helps patients access treatment more conveniently so that it fits around their lives and makes sure patients get greater power over how and when they can book their treatments and appointments.
It is at the heart of the government鈥檚 plans to end hospital backlogs and improve care through the Plan for Change.聽聽聽
鈥淥ur NHS has been stuck in the dark ages 鈥� held back by old fashioned systems where patients are struggling for appointments and unable to access their own data,鈥� said Sir Keir Starmer.
鈥淲e saw during the pandemic how apps can totally transform everyday access to health services. So there鈥檚 no excuse for the lack of progress in the NHS we鈥檝e inherited.
鈥淣HS reform has to come through better use of tech – it鈥檚 the fuel we need to power change.
鈥淎s we deliver our Plan for Change to end hospital backlogs, I want to see more and more people having the option to use the app, so that everyone benefits from more control and choice over their treatment.鈥�
The move comes as the Government steps up the use of health data to accelerate the discovery of life-saving drugs and improve patient care.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced an investment alongside Wellcome Trust of up to 拢600m to create a new health data research service.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added:聽聽聽聽聽聽
鈥淭his Government is determined to get our NHS fixed and fit for the future – and this is just one of the innovative ways through the Plan for Change that we鈥檙e helping patients, cutting waiting lists and saving taxpayers money all at the same time.聽聽
鈥淏y putting the latest technology into the hands of patients so they can access services quicker, we鈥檙e freeing up more time for doctors and nurses to focus on treating people and getting waiting lists down.
鈥淭his Government is doing things differently. Every missed appointment and wasted staff hour saved means another patient getting the care they need as we drive a digital NHS revolution through our Plan for Change.鈥澛犅�
Since July, the increased use of existing app features have saved almost 5.7m hours of staff time, including 1.26m clinical hours across care settings , with the NHS App helping to save the equivalent of 拢622m.
Forecasts for this year show the use of in-app notifications for planned care will prevent the need for 15.7million SMS messages 鈥� saving the NHS a further 拢985,000.聽聽聽聽聽
Planned upgrades include the ability for patients to choose from a wide range of providers through the app; book tests at convenient locations, such as their local community diagnostic centre; and receive test results quickly through the app before choosing the next step.