The NHS app will become the default method of communication for millions more patients in England and save the health service £200m over the next three years, the government has said.
More test results, screening invitations and appointment reminders will be sent directly to smartphones as part of a £50m investment in the app, in a move away from traditional communication methods such as letters.
It is estimated that at least 50 million letters are sent to patients each year.
The Department of Health and Social Care said that people who cannot access app messaging – including elderly patients – will receive text messages and then a letter as a last resort, and NHS phone lines would be freed up.
The department says 270 million messages will be sent through the NHS app this financial year – an increase of 70 million on the previous year.
Push notifications will provide appointment reminders to patients to try to reduce the risk of no attendance – with around eight million missed appointments in elective care missed in 20
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