Millions able to view prescriptions on NHS app for first time

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the update will make the access to care ‘easier for everyone’.
Millions of people in England can for the first time access and view their prescriptions on the NHS App (PA)
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Cormac Pearson30 January 2024

Millions of people in England can access and view their prescriptions on the NHS app for the first time.

Patients will be able to see when their prescriptions have been issued and see their prescribed medication, while people waiting for elective treatments will be able to see the average wait time for their procedure at their local trust.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the update will make the access to care “easier for everyone”.

“Today’s update will mean ordering and collecting your prescriptions can be done with a few taps of your fingers,” she said.

“This will not only benefit anyone getting a prescription, it will also ease pressures on our hard-working pharmacists and GPs – freeing up valuable time for patients and helping to cut waiting lists.”

NHS England said each repeat prescription order from the app saves GP practices three minutes and saves patients 18 minutes with each online order.

Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for transformation at NHS England, said: “Giving all patients in England direct access to prescription information through the app means they’ll know when their prescription is issued and avoid delays in collection.

“The new feature will also mean people who haven’t set a nominated pharmacy will be able to present the barcode in the app to a pharmacy of their choice without needing a paper version.”

It comes as more than 8,500 patients in England were being treated in virtual wards in December with the NHS aiming to curb hospital wait times.

Figures published by NHS Digital last month revealed 8,586 patients were treated virtually in December 2023, up from 7,886 in November.

Virtual wards allow patients to receive care in their own homes with clinical staff using apps or wearable technology to monitor them remotely.

Teams can also prescribe medications, order blood tests and administer fluids intravenously if needed.

They are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to treat those with frailty, acute respiratory infections and, since October, heart failure.

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