News

02.04.20

NHS technology sees 38% surge in usage during coronavirus outbreak

New research carried out into the use of NHS technology (such as apps and websites) demonstrated a 38% increase in usage among respondents due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Some of the biggest NHS technology increases were seen in the NHS website, NHS App and NHS Pathways, among other services.

As one of the biggest health-related websites in the world, typically attracting monthly viewing figures of around 30 million visits, the NHS website saw its traffic double in March 2020 to a record 61.3 million visits, with more than 3.4 million hits coming on a single day – and two-thirds of those landing on the Covid-19 content page.

Similarly the NHS App, which supporters patients in tasks from ordering repeat prescriptions to booking and cancelling GP appointments, saw a 111% increase in the number of registrations for the month of March 2020, when compared with the figures for February.

Repeat prescription requests made using the app also increased significantly during the month, as well as patient record views.

Significant increases were seen across NHS Pathways, the NHS 111 online service, NHS login and the Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS) too, while Microsoft Teams was recently made available to NHS organisations free of charge for a limited period of time, facilitating hundreds of thousands of online message, chats and calls.

Ben Davison, Executive Director for Product Development at NHS Digital, said: “These are unprecedented times and with social distancing now the norm for everyone we’re really starting to see digital technologies come to the fore, not just in the NHS but in all walks of life.

“Good technology is making it possible for doctors, nurses and other health professionals to continue to deliver care remotely where possible and freeing up time for those patients who need face-to-face care. It’s keeping people well whilst they are isolated with good information and advice and the ability to manage things like prescriptions remotely.

“We’re fully prepared for the numbers using NHS tech to continue increasing in the coming days and weeks, as the general public continue to play a key role in helping to ease the burden on our fantastic frontline services.”

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News