Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Following my statement in Plenary in September, setting out my ambition to make the NHS Wales App the digital front door to the NHS, I am pleased to update Members about the app’s new features.
Since its launch, more than 657,700 people have registered to use the bilingual NHS Wales App, which provides a growing range of functions to help people to manage their own health and wellbeing, complementing existing real-life NHS services.
Almost 5,000 people have been able to register using the new Welsh Identity Verification Service, which allows people’s identification to be verified at GP surgeries for those unable to use the standard NHS Login service.
More than three million repeat prescriptions have now been ordered through the NHS Wales App. People are able to view their health and prescription history, and access trusted health advice and information, including screening and wellbeing services via the app. It also allows people use secure messaging and provide feedback.
Building on these foundations, new services have been introduced over the last few months.
The app now enables people to view their referral to a hospital waiting list. This feature, allows people who have been added to lists from December to see their accepted referral into secondary care, check their waiting list status, and access information to help manage their health while waiting for hospital treatment.
People can also view details of their hospital appointments, including directions and supporting information, on the app as this functionality is rolled out across Wales. To date, more than 80,000 waiting list referrals and more than 197,000 hospital appointment notifications have been added to the app.
Over the next year, additional features, including summary health records, care-giver access authorisation, and test results will be introduced to the app.
We will continue to expand the app’s capabilities, ensuring it meets people’s needs.