UK UPDATE: What are the changes taking place to the NHS app in England

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There were a number of press announcements over the last two days highlighting the importance and improvements to the National Health Service app. Looking at the detail I realise that my GP practice must have been an early adopter and the fact I opted in early, so none of the enhancements listed are a surprise to me. This was brought home to me a few months ago when my parter Joan, left her GP practice (which was dire) and joined my GP practice and she was really impressed with the digital services offered.

However, the challenge will be helping the many seniors who will struggle with the changes.

Announcements from Sky 




Primary Communications Channel

The NHS app is undergoing a significant transformation to become the primary communication channel for patients, offering appointment reminders, screening invitations, and test results directly to their smartphones. The goal is to modernize the health service, reducing reliance on traditional postal services and saving an estimated £200 million over the next three years.

Key Changes Coming to the NHS App:

  • Push Notifications for Appointments – Patients will receive reminders to reduce missed appointments, which totaled around **eight million** in elective care last year.
  • Prescription Tracking – Users will be able to track their prescriptions in an Amazon-style system to check if their medicines are ready for collection or delivery.
  • Digital-First Communication – The app will replace 50 million NHS letters annually, with text messages as a backup for those without smartphones.
  • Integration with GP Services – Future updates will allow patients to request help from their GP and add appointments to their phone calendars.
  • Faster Login Methods – Features like Face ID are planned to streamline access.


Changes Already Implemented:

  • Expanded Hospital Usage – The NHS app is now used in **87% of hospitals** across England.
  • Increased Messaging Capacity – The app will deliver 270 million messages this year, up 70 million from the previous financial year.
  • Improved Patient Access – More than 11 million people log into the app monthly, with 20 million opted in to receive healthcare messages.


The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has emphasized that these changes aim to make accessing healthcare as convenient as online banking or ordering a takeaway. While digital access is expanding, traditional communication methods will remain available for those who need them.



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