Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help integrate NHS national communications and local GP surgery communications.

As part of the Government’s investment in digital channels, the NHS App currently provides patients with a National Health Service ‘front door’ through which they can access primary care services, including making appointments, ordering prescriptions, and viewing test results.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS App will develop further to give patients greater control and choice over their healthcare, enabling them to see their whole health record and contribute to it in one place.

NHS England guidance sets out a digital-first approach to patient communications, with the NHS App increasingly used as the primary channel for patient communications, including for general practice (GP) services, followed by text messages and emails where appropriate. However, digital-first does not mean digital-only, and we will continue to communicate with patients in a way that is comfortable and convenient for them.

NHS England is linking local GP surgery communications with national NHS digital channels through NHS Notify, which includes messaging in the NHS App. NHS England does not currently mandate that all clinical systems utilise NHS Notify, but it is available for all suppliers to use, including those supporting GPs.