Hospital patients at every NHS trust in England are now able to check their referrals and appointments through the NHS App.

64 per cent of all hospital appointments are currently visible through the app.

Many patients are also able to reschedule or cancel appointments using the app.

Every acute NHS trust in England is now linked up to the app, helping hospitals to save money by reducing the need for paper letters and SMS text messages. It is also helping to free up staff time and resources, increase productivity and help reduce waiting lists.

41 million people are now registered to use the app, to access services such as test results, prescriptions, patient records, patient messaging and appointment information from wherever they are.

In March, more than 15 million users logged into the app, up almost a third over the last 12 months. Prescription ordering through the app also rose by more than a third.

Jules Hunt, Director General of Technology, Digital and Data for the NHS, said “Millions of patients across England can now easily access information about their hospital referrals and appointments through the NHS App, giving them more control and choice about their care and cutting out unnecessary paperwork.

“This is a great example of how we’re transforming patients’ experience of healthcare and harnessing digital technology as part of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan.

“The technology is helping to reduce missed appointments and freeing up vital NHS staff time so they can tackle waiting lists more effectively – and I’d encourage all NHS App users to make the most of its features.”

Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister, said: “The NHS App is already transforming the way people manage their care — and these figures show just how popular it is.

“With patients at every hospital now able to view their referrals and appointments, and millions more ordering prescriptions and receiving health messages digitally, we are cutting the admin burden while helping to drive down waiting lists.

“Fewer missed appointments means more patients getting the treatment they need, sooner. The NHS App is central to our ambition of shifting the NHS from analogue to digital and giving the patient more control – and we’re only just starting there.”