The UK's first GP appointment booking app was launched - enabling patients to book appointments with their doctor directly from their smartphone. The Patient Access Mobile app, from the UK's leading independent health information site Patient.co.uk, will also enable patients to:
- Order repeat prescriptions
- Securely message their practice
- Update personal details e.g. change of address
Patient.co.uk is owned and operated by EMIS - the UK's leading supplier of healthcare software and related services to GP practices. The EMIS system enables the app to connect directly with practices.
The app is one of the first to feature in the NHS Commissioning Board's new Health Apps Library - a collection of recommended online tools designed to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation. The library was launched at the Healthcare Innovation Expo 2013.
Patient Access is currently used by more than 1.8 million patients from over 2,200 GP practices. In January 2013 alone, more than a quarter of a million requests for repeat medication were made through the service, and over 148,000 GP appointments were booked.
Historically the service has enabled patients of EMIS practices to access such services online via their desktop computer or laptop. Feedback from GPs and their patients suggested an appetite to move this capability to mobile devices.
Ben Foster, Operations Director at Patient.co.uk said: "While we have experienced massive demand for Patient Access - we found that not everyone could benefit. GPs were telling us that many of their patients didn't have access to internet or even a computer so couldn't use the service from home.
"Together with the growing trend for mobile-based services, a phone app was a natural solution - particularly given that over a third (39%) of visits to the Patient.co.uk site are now via mobile device."
About Patient Access/Patient Access Mobile
Patient Access is a secure web portal, currently used by more than 1.8 million patients from over 2,200 EMIS GP practices, to manage their appointments and prescriptions and view their medical records online.
In January 2013 alone, more than a quarter of a million requests for repeat medication were made through the service, and over 148,000 GP appointments were booked.
Patient Access Mobile brings patients the benefits of Patient Access via their smartphone.
The app is available for both Android phones and iPhones.
Initial registration to the Patient Access service is required prior to use of the app.
Login details to view the Patient Access app in action are available on request.
About Patient.co.uk
Patient.co.uk is the UK's leading independent online health resource in the UK, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals.
Patient.co.uk is owned and operated by EMIS - the UK's leading supplier of healthcare software and related services to GP practices.
In addition to Patient Access Mobile, the new NHS Commissioning Board’s Health Apps Library will also feature Patient.co.uk apps including: its Depression Calculator, IBS Symptom Tracker, Sleep Diary, and the main Patient.co.uk info app.
About EMIS Group plc
EMIS Group plc is the UK's leading supplier of software and related services to GP practices and a major supplier to high street pharmacies. As at 31 December 2012, 1,676 installations of EMIS Web had been completed in GP practices in the UK.