Take control of your health with the NHS App

The NHS App offers almost everyone a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS digital services, and over 33 million people have already downloaded it.

The NHS App gives patients the freedom to book and manage appointments, vaccinations and repeat prescriptions from the comfort of their own home or workplace.  To be eligible to use it, you need to be aged 13 or over and be registered with a GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man.

If you don’t have a compatible phone, tablet or other device then you can also log in through the NHS website in a web browser to access the same range of services.

Mark Thomas, chief digital and information officer at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“We know it’s frustrating when you can’t get through on the phone to make an appointment, but many practices now make slots available to book via the NHS App.  It’s also easy to tap the App to see all of your appointments in one place.

“Most practices now offer the option of requesting a repeat prescription quickly and securely via the NHS App.  You can see instantly once it has been approved, and can even ask for your prescription to be sent straight to a pharmacy of your choice, ready for you to collect when it’s convenient.

“Health advice and information is also readily available via the NHS App.  You can provide details of your symptoms and the secure technology will offer you advice or even arrange for a qualified professional to call you, if necessary.”

Once you’ve proved your identity, either using your photo ID or by registering for your practice’s online services, you’ll have full access to the NHS App.  This will allow you to:

• order repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect them;
• book and manage appointments;
• view your GP health record to see information like your allergies and medicines (if your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information such as test results);
• book and manage COVID-19 vaccinations;
• register your organ donation decision;
• choose how the NHS uses your data;
• view your NHS number;
• use 111 Online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you.

Even before proving who you are, you can use the NHS App to:

• search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments;
• find NHS services near you.

Depending on your GP surgery or hospital, you may be able to use the NHS App to:

• message your GP surgery or a health professional online;
• contact your GP surgery using an online form and get a reply;
• access health services on behalf of someone you care for;
• view and manage your hospital and other healthcare appointments;
• view useful links your doctor or health professional has shared with you;
• view and manage care plans.

Your NHS data is secure.  To access the NHS App, you will need to set up an NHS login and prove who you are, before being securely connected to information from your GP surgery.  If your device supports fingerprint detection or facial recognition, you can use it to log in each time, instead of using a password and security code.

You can download the NHS App from Google Play or the App Store.