The plan outlined a future where patients can access a wide range of healthcare services and advice at the touch of a button. From booking GP appointments to receiving AI-powered health guidance, the app will streamline care and reduce pressure on frontline services.

For the first time, patients will be able to book, reschedule, and cancel all NHS appointments directly through the app, ending the long-standing ‘8am scramble’ for GP slots. The app will also offer 24/7 AI-driven advice for non-urgent care, helping patients get the right support faster.

Patients will be able to self-refer to services such as mental health therapies, musculoskeletal care, podiatry, and audiology—freeing up GP time and slashing waiting lists. These changes are central to the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to make healthcare more convenient and equitable.

Parents will benefit from a digital alternative to the traditional ‘red book’, with children’s health records and developmental advice available in-app. Over time, the app will track feeding, sleep, and use AI to support child health decisions.

Clinicians will also see major improvements, including AI scribes to take notes, generative AI to draft care plans, and a single sign-on system for NHS software. These innovations are expected to save the NHS £200 million over three years.

“The NHS App will become a ‘doctor in your pocket’, bringing our health service into the 21st century.

“Patients who can afford to pay for private healthcare can get instant advice, remote consultations with a doctor, and choose where and when their appointments will be. Our reforms will bring those services to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay.

“The 10 Year Health Plan will keep every patient fully informed of their healthcare and make using the NHS as easy and convenient as doing your banking or shopping online. It will deliver a fundamental shift in the way people access their care - from analogue to digital.

“A new single patient record will bring an end to the frustration of repeating your medical history to different doctors. Instead, health and care professionals will have your record in one handy place, so they can give you the best possible care.

“Through our Plan for Change, this government is shifting care to digital and delivering an NHS which is truly fit for the future.”

A cornerstone of the plan is the creation of a secure, unified Single Patient Record, which will consolidate all medical data into one accessible platform. Patients will be able to view their records by default from 2028, including lifestyle, demographic, and genomic data to support personalised, preventative care.

The record will be protected as Critical National Infrastructure, with robust security and audit trails. Health professionals will have secure access, and patients will control who else can view their data.

The app will integrate with wearables and smart devices to track metrics like step count, heart rate, and sleep quality. This real-time data will feed into a new My Health tool, offering tailored health advice and early warnings for potential issues.

A My NHS GP tool will use AI to direct patients to the most appropriate care—whether that’s self-care, a pharmacy, a neighbourhood health centre, or emergency services.

To ensure no one is left behind, the government will partner with libraries and community organisations to help people access and use the app. ‘Show and tell’ sessions will boost digital confidence, especially among those previously excluded from tech-enabled care.

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