Patients told to test at home to free up NHS hospital appointments

Patients in England are being encouraged to use the NHS App to self-report vital health data and complete questionnaires, aiming to free up an estimated 500,000 hospital appointments annually. This initiative, part of 45 pilot schemes across 37 trusts, focuses on specialties like ENT, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, urology, and cardiology. The goal is to reduce strain on hospitals, especially before winter, by allowing patients with long-term conditions to undergo routine tests locally and have specialists review results remotely, thus minimizing the need for in-person visits. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated this approach modernizes care, bringing it closer to home and making it easier, faster, and more accessible for everyone. Pilot programs include patients treated for prostate cancer providing updates via the app and initiatives to reduce missed appointments by allowing patients to communicate access needs in advance. Digital pre-appointment questionnaires are also being introduced for respiratory conditions to streamline initial co... download the app to read more