Hospital appointments in your pocket

Healthwatch West Berkshire
9 hours ago
2 min read

The NHS App is continuing to evolve, with a new update this April making it easier for patients to check and manage hospital appointments in one place.

This change is part of a wider shift towards more digital access across the NHS — but what does it actually mean for people, and what should we be paying attention to locally?

What’s changed?

Patients can now view hospital and specialist appointments directly in the NHS App, alongside GP appointments, prescriptions, and test results.

Depending on the hospital, people may also be able to:

See appointment details and supporting information
Access contact details for the relevant department
View past appointments
Receive updates or reminders
In some cases, book, change or cancel appointments

This information is pulled together from different NHS systems, giving patients a more joined-up view of their care.

Why this matters

For many people, hospital appointments can feel confusing — with letters, texts, and different systems all being used.

Bringing this into one place could:

Make it easier to keep track of appointments
Reduce missed appointments
Help people prepare with the right information
Improve communication between patients and services

We know from what people tell us that clear communication is one of the biggest challenges in accessing care. This is a step towards addressing that.

But it won’t work for everyone

While digital improvements can make things easier, they can also highlight existing inequalities.

Not everyone:

Has access to a smartphone or the internet
Feels confident using apps
Wants to manage their care digitally

And even within the NHS App, features can vary depending on the hospital, meaning people may have different experiences depending on where they receive care.

What this means for local people

For residents, this change may make it simpler to stay on top of appointments, especially if you are already using the NHS App.

However, it’s important that:

Non-digital options remain available
Information is clear and consistent across services
People know where to go if something doesn’t look right

What we’ll be doing

At Healthwatch West Berkshire, we’ll continue to listen to our residents about your experiences of accessing care, including how digital tools like the NHS App are working in practice.

We’re particularly interested in: