The NHS App now has twice as many users as Netflix’s subscribers, with three quarters of adults in England (33.6 million users) signed up to the health app.
Monthly traffic to the app – which is five years old – has also risen by more than half in the past year, with monthly logins increasing by 54% from 16.8 million in November 2022 to 25.8 million in November 2023.
According to figures shared by NHS England, pensioners are the most active users on the app.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of the 3.6 million registered users aged over 66 have accessed the app in the last three months, including 256,400 in their 80s and 17,100 aged 90 and over.
The NHS App can be used to check one’s GP health record, ordering repeat prescriptions, or nominating a preferred pharmacy.
Each prescription ordered electronically saves GP practices three minutes of time and a patient 18 minutes.
The number of repeat prescriptions has risen by almost half (48%) from 2.2 million in November 2022 to 3.2 million in November 2023.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive said: ‘Just a few years ago, people had to go into a GP for a paper prescription but now via the NHS app it can be done at the touch of a button – which is a truly transformational change and so much more convenient for patients.
‘The NHS is already world leading in population coverage of the app but I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t already downloaded the NHS App to give it a go and see how easy it is to manage their healthcare from the palm of their hand.’
And health secretary Victoria Atkins said: ‘I want to make our health and social care system faster, simpler and fairer. Technology is playing a big part in that, and it is already transforming the way we access the NHS. I am proud the app has now been downloaded by three in four adults across the country – testament to just how vital it is – and that this target has been hit early.
‘Millions of people are getting quicker access to care and treatment through the app. I want even more patients to be able to benefit from this kind of innovation and from new features as they are introduced – I urge anyone who hasn’t yet downloaded the app to do so.’
