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NHS: Digital Technology

Asked by Lisa SmartLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 9 September 2025UIN 72552

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS digital services related to (a) medicine ordering, (b) appointment notifications and (c) other requirements are accessible via standard web browsers.

Answered by Karin Smyth

NHS Digital services are accessible via standard, modern web browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. We are working to improve access to digital services, outcomes, and experiences for the widest range of people, based on their preferences. Patients unable to use digital channels can continue to access services via telephone and through traditional face-to-face services.

Citizens can access a range of information on different health conditions on the National Health Service website, which is all clinically verified.

Centrally built services, such as the NHS App and NHS website, which enable citizens to order repeat prescriptions and view and manage their general practice and hospital appointments, are designed to meet international accessibility standards. We are modernising the mobile patient experience within the NHS App, ensuring information is clearly structured and easy to find and understand.

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