Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has challenged the NHS to deliver digital services nationwide.
Mr Hunt wants every patient in England to be able access their medical records and book an appointment with a GP via an app by the end of 2018.
By the end of 2018 – the 70th birthday year of the NHS – the Health Secretary said he expects every patient in England to be able to do the following online through an app:
- Access NHS 111.
- Access their healthcare record.
- Book a GP appointment.
- Order repeat prescriptions.
- Express their organ donation preferences.
- Express their data sharing preferences.
- Access support for managing a long term condition.
- Pilot schemes are already underway, with ongoing evaluation before a potential national roll-out.
Jeremy Hunt (pictured) said: “If the NHS is going to be the safest, highest quality healthcare system in the world we need to do technology better. So today I am setting seven challenges which, if we achieve them, will make the NHS a world-beater in the care of people with long term conditions.
“People should be able to access their own medical records 24/7, show their full medical history to anyone they choose and book basic services like GP appointments or repeat prescriptions online. I do not underestimate the challenge of getting there – but if we do it will be the best possible 70th birthday present from the NHS to its patients.”
