NHS app's new feature allows patients to track their prescriptions

NHS England on Friday (23) announced the rollout of a new feature in the NHS app that will help patients track their prescriptions through real-time “Amazon-style” updates.

Nearly 1,500 high street pharmacies, including Boots, have already adopted the technology, and the new service will be made available to around 5,000 pharmacies in a year.

This new feature aims to reduce the burden on pharmacies by minimising unnecessary calls and visits, and pharmacists can focus on patient care.

NHS England estimates that approximately 45 per cent of calls to community pharmacies are from individuals checking on the status of their prescriptions.

The app now allows patients to track their prescriptions, check whether they are “ready to collect” or shipped by the pharmacy, if they are being delivered.

NHS England Clinical Transformation director Dr Vin Diwakar said, “We know that people want more control over how they manage their healthcare and the new prescription tracking feature in the NHS App offers exactly that."

National Pharmacy Association chair Olivier Picard called the new feature on NHS app a 'game changer'.

"If rolled out equitably to all pharmacies, it will encourage greater use of the NHS app. In many pharmacies, we’ve seen limited patient uptake of the NHS App largely because this functionality wasn’t previously available."

RPS England Board chair Tase Oputu said the NHS app upgrade will benefit patients and pharmacies.

"By reducing unnecessary calls and visits, this innovation allows pharmacists to focus more on delivering expert care and vital services.”