Hospital patients in England can now access their appointment schedules and referral information through the NHS smartphone application.
This update applies to every NHS trust throughout England.
Jules Hunt, the health service’s director general of technology, digital and data, explained that patients across England can now easily view details about their hospital referrals and appointments through the NHS App, giving them greater control and choices over their care while cutting down on administrative tasks.
These new features, intended to improve patient access and reduce paperwork, are part of the Government’s ten-year health strategy.
Hunt noted that the digital tool is helping decrease the number of missed appointments and enabling NHS staff to concentrate on other vital duties.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, who holds the role of Health Innovation and Safety Minister, said the NHS application is already transforming how people manage their healthcare, with adoption rates proving its popularity.
As patients at all hospitals can now view their referrals and appointments, and millions more use the platform to order repeat prescriptions and receive health information digitally, administrative pressures are being reduced while efforts to cut waiting times are being supported.
The change applies to all acute NHS trusts commissioned to provide adult healthcare services.