NHS App’s New Prescription Feature Garners Over 2.7 Million Users in Two Months

Over 2.7 million people in England have utilised a newly introduced prescription feature on the NHS App within the first two months of its launch.

This January-introduced functionality allows users to check the issuance of their prescriptions and view their medication details, heralding a new era of convenience in patient care.

Embracing Digital Convenience

The prescription feature has seen 18.4 million prescription views from users with a nominated pharmacy, facilitating the electronic transmission of prescription details directly to pharmacies. Additionally, 1.2 million views were recorded by users without a nominated pharmacy. These individuals can now collect their prescriptions from any pharmacy using a barcode provided by the app, eliminating the need for a paper prescription.

Surging App Usage

Recent figures reveal the NHS App’s registered user base has swelled to more than 34 million, with monthly logins seeing a 79% increase over the past year, from 16.2 million in February 2023 to 29 million in February 2024. The app’s popularity is particularly noteworthy ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend, with patients encouraged to use it for ordering repeat prescriptions or accessing NHS advice.

The number of repeat prescriptions requested through the app has risen by 44% year-on-year, with an average of 3.3 million requests processed monthly. This digital shift is not only convenient for patients, who save an average of 18 minutes per order, but also significantly reduces the administrative load on GP practices.

Expert Insights

Vin, the National Transformation Director at NHS England, expressed delight at the widespread adoption of the app’s new feature. “The NHS App is evolving into an indispensable tool in our healthcare ecosystem, easing access to services and lightening the administrative load on our healthcare professionals,” he remarked. With three-quarters of adults in England now using the NHS App, Vin encourages everyone to leverage its full potential, especially during the upcoming holiday period.

In alignment with the government’s commitment to digital healthcare, the recent budget announced an additional £3.4 billion investment in new technologies and digital transformation within the NHS. Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria, underscored the aim of making NHS services more accessible and efficient through digital innovations like the NHS App.

Expanding Digital Services

The NHS App continues to add new features to enhance patient experience. One such addition enables users to view the average waiting times for hospital treatments and manage appointments directly through the app. February 2024 saw a 233% increase in appointment management through the app compared to the previous year, with two-thirds of NHS acute trusts now integrated into this service.

For those looking to make the most of the NHS’s digital offerings, details on registering with the NHS App can be found at www.nhs.uk/nhs-app. As the Easter weekend approaches, the NHS reminds everyone to use NHS 111 online for non-emergency health needs and reserve 999 for life-threatening situations, ensuring everyone has access to the care they need, when they need it.