NHS App sees 1.3 million new users in last fortnight

May 24, 2021 7:40:11 AM · 2 min read

In yet another example of how the pandemic has led to an acceleration of government transformation, over 1.3 million people have registered to use the NHS App since the addition of Covid-19 vaccine status was announced on 7 May. The app allows easy access to coronavirus (Covid) vaccination status for travel and wider NHS services.

The app, which now has over 4.8 million registered users, is one of the first internationally compliant systems in the world to demonstrate vaccine status. The Covid vaccine status service allows users easily to show their proof of vaccine, if required for international travel, and has been designed in line with World Health Organisation interim guidance.

As well as accessing Covid vaccine status, people can use a wide range of personalised services, including GP appointment booking, ordering repeat prescriptions, and viewing GP and hospital records.

Matthew Gould NHSX CEO "This has been stood up in a matter of weeks, by a team working every hour to ensure we delivered a user-friendly service on time," said Matthew Gould, Chief Executive of NHSX. "We are really pleased with how it’s been received, and even more pleased to see it get so many people using the online services of the NHS."

In a Tweet, Gould acknowledged the support of Netcompany in delivering the additional vaccine certification functionality.

Proud of the @NHSX @NHSDigital @netcompany_uk team that delivered vaccine certification in the NHS app, on time and user-driven. We've already got >1m new users on the apphttps://t.co/B6x2e6zyY7
— Matthew Gould (@matthewsgould) May 24, 2021

Since Monday 17 May, people have logged into the NHS App more than 4 million times. The boost in downloads will have life-saving benefits as over 11,483 additional people registered their preference for organ donation via the NHS App in just 4 days - 10 times more than the average donation levels for that time.

People are also accessing services more easily, with nearly 90,000 people in the past week using the app to order repeat prescriptions, saving clinicians and patients valuable time.

"The strides in technology and innovation we’ve made throughout the pandemic are having real consequences beyond fighting this virus - they’re making treatment, diagnosis and care better for patients," said Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock. "I want to thank all my colleagues at NHSX and NHS Digital who helped us to deliver the Covid vaccine status service so quickly. The pace we’ve brought this to fruition is unparalleled and it is bringing immediate benefits to our wider health service."

For anyone in England who has had 2 doses of any approved vaccine, and does not use the app or are unable to access digital services, they can call 119 and request a letter. The first 20,000 letters were delivered across England on Saturday.

By the Numbers

Between 17 May and 20 May:

11,483 users registered an organ donation preference via the NHS App, a daily average of 2,870. This is almost ten times the number of new registrations in April of around 300 per day.
89,422 prescriptions were ordered via the NHS App, a daily average of 22,355. In April the daily average of prescriptions ordered was around 13,000.
8,091 appointments were booked via the NHS App, a daily average of 2,002. This is double the daily average of appointments booked in April of around 1,000.

May 24, 2021 7:40:11 AM · 2 min read

By James

James is the Editor of Government Transformation magazine, and has been covering digital government and public sector reform for 25 years. He also oversees the content for Government Transformation Week, the UK's biggest series of public sector transformation events.