The NHS App. More than just an App?

I recently read “The NHS at a Crossroads: The App That Can Transform Britain’s Health” by Charlotte Refsum, Adam Bradshaw and Dan Hall (Tony Blair Institute), and it genuinely got me thinking.

For a long time, I viewed the NHS App as useful, but limited; a functional tool for booking GP appointments, viewing health records, or ordering repeat prescriptions. Handy, yes. But not exactly transformative. However, things have shifted, especially through the pilot work SmartCo Future Health has been delivering with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the NHS England Federated Data Platform (FDP) team.

As part of this collaboration, we’ve supported the introduction of new functionality within the NHS App, creating architecture and integration frameworks that allow for scalability in this fast-moving world.

This work is beginning to show how the app can evolve from a passive administrative tool into an active health engagement platform capable of driving real system change.

This report reframes the NHS App as something much bigger: not just a tool, but a potential cornerstone of a modern, sustainable NHS. I found that idea genuinely exciting.

One of the points I really connected with was the comparison between the NHS App and Amazon. Saying “it’s just an app” completely misses the infrastructure, systems and potential that sit behind it. It reminded me that digital transformation isn’t about the interface, it’s about what’s possible behind the scenes.

That said, I also appreciated the warning about the productivity paradox. It’s a very real risk that new tech just digitises old inefficiencies, rather than rethinking them entirely. I’ve seen this happen in other sectors, where tech is layered onto clunky processes rather than used to reinvent them. The NHS could easily fall into that same trap if the app is used to replicate existing systems rather than rethink how care is delivered.

The section on prevention particularly resonated with me. I think this is where the app could be genuinely transformative. Giving people personalised risk scores, proactive health checks and nudges for screening or vaccinations feels like a real shift from reactive to preventive care. It’s something I’d love to see prioritised more.

I also liked the point about the app needing to be person-centric, not just NHS-centric. The reality is that many of us are already navigating care from both public and private providers. For the app to be genuinely useful, it has to reflect how people actually use health services, not just how the NHS is structured.

Another strong takeaway for me was around design. The app will only succeed if it’s intuitive and easy to use. I’ve always believed that if something feels clunky or overly complicated, people simply won’t engage with it, especially when it comes to their health.

The report also raised some important flags. Developing the app separately from the Single Patient Record, for example, feels like a huge, missed opportunity. Why build systems that rely on each other in isolation? Integration here seems like common sense, and I’d really like to see more joined-up thinking in this space.

And finally, the timeline around wearables. The idea of waiting until 2035 to fully integrate them feels unnecessarily cautious. We already use wearables daily; I use an apple watch and would certainly integrate the everyday data to a tool that can be fed back to professionals or services if needed. Why not move faster to connect them to the system and use that data in smarter, more meaningful ways?

Overall, I came away from the report feeling more optimistic than I expected. I think the NHS App could be a game-changer, but only if we’re brave enough to move beyond simply digitising what already exists. This is a moment to think bigger, act faster and build something that truly meets the needs of today’s (and tomorrow’s) patients.

About Henry

Henry is a qualified APM PMQ Project Manager with over 4 years’ experience in healthcare project management. Recently being involved in Client Engagement and engaging with digital health leaders on their digital programmes. Henry is involved with all aspects of client accounts and projects from initiation to delivery, ensuring successful project outcomes.​

About SmartCo Future Health

SmartCo Future Health is an award-winning consultancy shaping the future of healthcare. We bring a best-in-class team and future-focused approach; empowering clients, programmes and partners. We are a people first business, prioritising employee well-being, flexible working and equal opportunities for all.