Hospital trust champions NHS app ahead of busy winter for health services

Senior leaders at Mid Cheshire Hospitals are urging patients to sign up to the NHS App to help them manage their health during winter.

The Trust is encouraging local people to join the millions in the North West who have already started using the digital service.

It says boosting the number of patients who are signed up will improve access to a range of online services and save people time, while also freeing up health service partners such as GPs to help vulnerable patients in the colder months.

The NHS App can be used to order repeat medications, meaning people do not need to ring or contact their GP practices, and if their pharmacy offers it, they can receive notifications once their item is ready to be collected.

Once an NHS account is linked, patients can also:

• View their health record – securely accessing information such as allergies and current and past medicines. If a GP has given the patient access, they can also see information such as test results and details of consultations
• Register an organ donation decision – choose to donate some or all organs and check a registered decision
• Find out how the NHS uses their data – choose if data from a health record is shared for research and planning
• View their NHS number
• Book appointments – some GP practices allow you to search for, book and cancel appointments at your GP surgery, and see details of your upcoming and past GP appointments
• Access NHS 111 online for trusted medical help and advice

Dr Clare Hammell, Chief Medical Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: “Using the NHS App can save you time, help you manage your health needs, and enable you to access online services at a time that suits you.

“As we head into winter - a very busy period for local health services - this is also an ideal time to sign up. If we increase the number of people using the app, it will help free up resources for our healthcare partners such as GPs, so they can continue to deliver the best care for patients.

“The App is also another way for patients to access the NHS 111 service, which can support people to make the right choice for their healthcare needs.”

Matt Palmer, Deputy Chief Information Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: “These days when a large number of us are used to using apps for everything from ordering our shopping to checking sports updates, the NHS App offers a really simple, secure and convenient option for managing our healthcare needs.

“We know new features are in development for the App and the future of this technology is really exciting, so we’d encourage as many people as possible to sign up now and make the most of what’s on offer.”

Around four million patients in the North West have already registered for the NHS App, with six and a half million patient log-ins each month and over 48,000 GP appointments being managed via the service each month.

You can download the NHS App on the App Store or Google Play – find out more here - https://www.nhs.uk/nhsapp

Once you have downloaded the app, you can get help and support from the NHS website.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals' Winter Wellbeing Guide - which includes advice and useful links - is available at mcht.nhs.uk/winter

Staff on Ward 21b promoting the NHS App.