Gift yourself the NHS App this Christmas

Patients in Devon are being urged to ‘unwrap’ the NHS App to manage their health over the festive period.

With demand for NHS services rising over Christmas, the app offers a fast, convenient alternative to calling or visiting your GP practice for everyday tasks.

Patients can use it to order repeat prescriptions, get advice on medical conditions and locate nearby NHS services – all without needing to wait for surgery opening hours or make a phone call.

The ability to order repeat prescriptions in the run-up to Christmas is particularly useful as GP practices often experience a last-minute rush of people attempting to get their medication in time before Christmas.

Dr Alex Degan, a GP in Devon and primary care medical director at NHS Devon said: “Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for the NHS. Winter illnesses such as flu and COVID-19 spread more as people gather indoors, which leads to increased demand on services.

“This makes the NHS App even more valuable over the festive period as it allows you to unlock a host of services from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

“The app is available 24 hours a day for everything from ordering a repeat prescription to checking advice on a medical condition, so you can ensure your Christmas isn’t ruined because you have run out of vital medicines.”

You can also use the NHS App to:

  • Order repeat prescriptions – and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect them
  • Check if you need urgent medical help using 111 online
  • View your GP health record
  • Book and manage COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Register organ donation decisions
  • Choose how the NHS uses your data.

You can download the app on your smartphone or tablet via the Google Play or App Store or access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.

To use the NHS App or log in through the NHS website, you must be aged 13 or over and registered with an NHS GP surgery in England.

To set up a login, you need an email address and a mobile or landline number. This login will also give you access to lots of health and care websites and apps, including NHS services, online pharmacies, patient access services, and online consultation services.

The post Gift yourself the NHS App this Christmas appeared first on One Devon.