NHS app: Will it cut down on wasted appointments?

[Northerner]

The government has unveiled a new NHS mobile app that will put patients in England in direct touch with their GPs.

The app will allow users to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and see their medical files held by the surgery.

They will also be able to sign up as organ donors, decide how their health data is used and get advice from the 111 service.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the app as a "birthday present from the NHS to the British people", 70 years after it was founded.

Testing of the NHS app will begin in September and it will then be available for anyone in England to download in December for both Android and Apple devices.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44676493

 

[Ralph-YK]

I don't see much point to it. We've got online repeat prescription ordering and appointment booking already. I don't see having an app having any benifits.

 

[Bubbsie]

I don't see much point to it. We've got online repeat prescription ordering and appointment booking already. I don't see having an app having any benifits.

I wonder how much that cost to implement?...a real present to the NHS would be adequate funding...some real respect for the staff & recipients of NHS services.

 

[trophywench]

I use the online system for ordering prescriptions - the only alternative is to actually go to the surgery and post your request into a different letterbox. No phone requests allowed.

I also use it to book phlebotomy appointments. I don't use it for Drs ones because they deliberately don't put all available ones on there, hence the thing will show none at all for the next 2 months so you ring up and they normally find you a more than reasonable one. According to their website they have doctors there now I've never even heard of! You try not to go in there to book anything since the queue to see a receptionist snakes up and down the central corridor so it's easier to ring and listen to the 'hold' music for half an hour instead. Potty!

 

[Ralph-YK]

You try not to go in there to book anything since the queue to see a receptionist snakes up and down the central corridor so it's easier to ring and listen to the 'hold' music for half an hour instead. Potty!

I've got a nice bluetooth speaker for when I had a smart phone. It also has a mike and worked really well for hands free. I could get the washing up done while I was waiting. (The blue tooth speaker was better than the built in one.)

 

[trophywench]

Oh I just stick the phone on 'loudspeaker' mode and go about my other business whenever that happens, like when you need to ring the Tax office or something!

 

[Ljc]

I can already book gp appointments online, see some of my medical record, test results, details of pr3vious visits/conditions, order repeat prescriptions. I can also request medications by email. I have to either phone or go in to book an appointment with the nurses or care assistants.
Personally I wouldn’t use that app.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Oh I just stick the phone on 'loudspeaker' mode and go about my other business whenever that happens, like when you need to ring the Tax office or something!

The speaker in my phones (the phones really I guess) werent really good enough for that. Too quiet and distorted when turned up.

 

[mikeyB]

Of course every surgery is different in the systems they use. My guess is the app will only work with a very few of them. Daft idea, but I bet some software company are rubbing their hands in glee at landing an NHS contract. Double your price, nobody will notice.