The latest update to the NHS Wales App has introduced visibility for patients on their current position on NHS waiting lists, enabling them to view their referrals into hospital care, see details of upcoming appointments, and access information on managing their health while waiting for treatment.
So far, more than 80,000 waiting list referrals and 197,000 hospital appointment notifications have been added to the App, according to NHS Wales. This adds to existing functionality allowing people to order repeat prescriptions and view their health and prescription history, send secure messages to their GP surgery, and access advice on things like screening services.
Further updates are planned to introduce summary health records and test results.
More than 650,000 people have registered to use the NHS Wales App since it launched in April 2023, NHS Wales shares, “equivalent to one in five adults in Wales”. 13.5 million log-ins have been recorded, and more than three million repeat prescriptions have been ordered.
Late last year, updates were shared around current use and plans for upcoming features, including test results, patient-reported outcomes, and an “about me” section for patients to share information they would like health professionals to know about them. Beyond this, the government is prioritising visibility of secondary care features and the integration of platforms such as the Swansea Bay patient portal, improving interoperability, “but only where it adds value”.
The ambition is to “match the functionality of the English app and then go further”, the update states. “We are building an app that is bilingual by design, reflecting our national identity; equitable to access, with inclusive verification and proxy features; and integrated across systems, including commercial platforms.”
Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing, said: “Our ambition remains for the NHS Wales App to become the digital front door for all NHS and social care services. We promised to give people more information about how long they can expect to wait for treatment. These updates deliver on that commitment. We will continue to update and expand the app’s capabilities, ensuring it meets the needs of patients and clinicians alike.”
NHS digital transformation in Wales
Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust has shared that the refresh of its electronic patient care record (ePCR) application has been formally approved following “extensive collaboration” with users and stakeholders. The ePCR’s user interface is undergoing enhancement to make it more intuitive, with input from senior clinicians, digital services, and the trust’s CCIO. “The project has now progressed from the design phase to development,” the board shares. “A joint meeting between WAST and TERRAFIX is scheduled for this month, at which a progress update and demonstration will be provided to WAST.”
WAST also shared its digital KPIs, work on information governance, and discussed the risks surrounding unauthorised or inappropriate use of AI. Granted a high risk status, the unauthorised or inappropriate use of AI tech such as ChatGPT “outside of approved organisational channels or without appropriate governance” was considered. The trust points to the potential for information shared or returned by such tools to breach information security and data protection controls, adding that “use of the output may breach transparency, medical device, equality, Welsh Language and ethical requirements”. The board also noted that the prospect of a deep dive session on AI-driven cyber threats was supported by members as a means of knowledge development.
Digital Health and Care Wales has sought information from potential suppliers on a digital triage primary care solution. The notice outlines a 2-year duration for the contract, with an estimated value of up to £500k. According to the general medical services team at DHCW, the solution should support patient triage, appointment management, patient communication and business intelligence, in order to meet the needs of a general practice.
