NHS Confederation and NHS Providers comments on NHS England’s new campaign to ‘tap the app’

Commenting on the launch of NHS England’s new campaign urging people to turn on ‘push alerts’ from the NHS App, Matthew Taylor, interim chief executive of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, said:

“Patients miss appointments for complex and varied reasons, but any measures – including digital tools such as the NHS App and AI – which can help reduce forgotten appointments, late attendance and to reschedule visits to the GP at a time most convenient to patients, should be welcomed.

“NHS leaders know that investment in new technologies, such as AI, alongside funding for core IT and digital infrastructure, has the potential to offer major benefits to patients and staff, particularly at a time when the health service is under significant pressure.

“However, we need to remember that not everyone will be able to use these digital tools, so it’s important that health services are also designed to reflect the needs of those who need them the most.”