NHS account release notes

• We have improved the design of the hospital appointments and referrals section. It is now easier to see your schedule and any actions you need to take.
• Depending on your GP surgery and hospital, you can now access questionnaires and documents about hospital appointments.
• On Android devices you can now enable a badge on the NHS App icon, alerting you to unread messages. This was already available on iOS devices.
• We have improved the welcome message you receive when you first use the NHS App.

• We have fixed a formatting issue that displayed Be Part of Research text incorrectly while in landscape mode on certain devices.
• Depending on your GP surgery, you can now contact your GP for both medical advice and admin requests from your Messages section.
• We have fixed a bug where some message subjects were not displaying correctly in message previews.

• We have fixed a bug that prevented JAWS screenreader users from updating their organ donation decision.
• We have made some error messages easier to read.
• We have fixed a bug that prevented you from opening certain messages.
• We have fixed a bug that may have prevented you from joining our user research panel.
• You can now register to take part in health research from the homepage and Your Health.

If you have full access to your NHS account, you will see a new link to the Be Part of Research website on the homepage and the Your Health page. You can follow it to find out more about taking part in health research.

• When you first log in to the NHS App after this update, we will ask if you want to get notifications about new messages.
• We have improved the information you see before accessing a third-party service.
• We have increased the size of the Close button to make it more accessible.
• We have updated the message description so it’s clearer who the sender is.
• We have updated the spacing around the unread message indicator so it’s clearer.
• We fixed a bug that showed a warning screen unnecessarily.

• If you download and use NHS App for the first time, you will see a new series of welcome screens before you register or login. The screens give some introductory information about how the app can help you manage your health.
• We have further improved security in the organ donation journey.
• We have updated the headings in the messages section as a service name has changed from Your Health Service Messages to The NHS App Messaging Service.
• If your GP surgery uses EMIS we have fixed a bug that meant a symbol wasn’t displaying in some test results.

• The message icon at the bottom of your NHS App screen will now show a red dot if you have any unread messages.
• We have increased the number of GP surgeries where patients can download health record documents stored in HTML format.
• We fixed some error screens that may not have displayed correctly if you were trying to book or cancel an appointment.
• We have extended the ability to ask your GP for medical advice, or answer questions online and get a response, to all surgeries that use PATCHS.
• We fixed an issue where VoiceOver for iPhones, iPads and Mac computers was not reading out some information about messages correctly.
• If you cannot download a file in your health records because you do not have space on your device, a new error message will explain why this is happening.

You can now book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.

• We have improved the messages area of your NHS account. You'll find clearer, more detailed headings and descriptions for different messaging services that may be available to you. We have also changed how these services are ordered and presented.
• On iPhone and iPad, the NHS App icon can now display a badge, showing how many unread messages you have from your GP surgery and other NHS services. You need to have version 2.22 of the app or above, and to have enabled push notifications since the start of October 2022. We are working towards making this feature available on Android devices soon.
• We have made accessibility improvements to help you view your hospital referrals and appointments. This includes hidden text to help you navigate if you use a screen reader. If you have multiple referrals or appointments, we have added numbers to help you tell them apart.
• We fixed an issue on some iPads where a link to your account settings did not work.
• We fixed an issue with using linked profiles, where the yellow banner at the top of the page could remain visible after your session had timed out.
• We fixed an error with the homepage where your name and NHS number may not have displayed.

• We have updated the homepage of the NHS App to make it easier for you to use. The new homepage has clearer link descriptions, a new order of services, and layout changes that people found helpful during our user research. You can also use a new link to search for NHS services near you.
• When you log in to your NHS account using a web browser, you’ll also find an updated homepage. This includes many of the same changes we have made in the NHS App.
• We’ve also updated the homepage when you use a linked profile to access services for someone else. This includes a clearer link to help you switch between profiles.
• We fixed an issue where, if your GP surgery uses TPP, you may only have been able to view or download the first page of some letters in your health record.
• If you have JavaScript switched off in your web browser, you’ll see an updated message explaining how to turn it on. We changed the colour of the message so that it shows against different backgrounds.
• We fixed an error message about setting up fingerprint, face or iris recognition.

• We added an icon in the NHS App to tell you when you have a new message, or unread messages.
• Your NHS App notifications will also now tell you if you have a new message, or unread messages.
• You will now see an error message if you try to send an empty message.
• We fixed an issue where you were asked to turn on Touch ID or Face ID when it was already on.
• If your GP surgery uses EMIS, you can now view.xx2 files (files that change binary data to text) on the NHS App.
• We added information explaining what to do if your appointment is missing, incorrect or has not been changed or cancelled.
• We fixed an intermittent issue where the NHS App stopped working if you received a notification when the app was open.

• If you use a screen reader: we fixed an issue that occurs while booking an appointment. The screen reader would repeat the character count twice when you entered Reason for appointment.
• If you have an Android device and your GP surgery uses eConsult: when you are booking an online consultation with your GP there is a character limit for each field. We fixed an issue where you could exceed the character limit, but any extra characters would be deleted automatically. You are now warned when you have reached the maximum number of characters and prevented from typing further characters.
• If your nearest pharmacy has closed, you can now have your prescription sent to an alternative pharmacy.

If your GP surgery uses EMIS, you can now download a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file without losing formatting. The file will also automatically convert to a formatted PDF file.

• Logging in to the NHS App with your fingerprint, face or iris (biometrics) is now easier. You will now be asked if you want to set up biometrics the first time you use the NHS App. We also changed the design from a toggle switch to a radio button to make it more consistent.
• We fixed an issue where an error message disappears when you start typing.
• We fixed a back button that sent you to the homepage instead of to a page where you could choose a prescription to order.
• We fixed an issue where you could not see the documents in your health records if your GP surgery uses EMIS.
• We changed the content on health records and organ donation to make it more consistent. We also changed the way we describe ‘sick notes’ on appointments.
• We changed the way we display messages in the NHS App, so that you can see unread messages more easily.
• We added two new screens when you manage your NHS notifications. You can now see examples of NHS notifications and manage your notifications across multiple devices.

Improvements:

You can now book or manage your referrals or hospital appointments. This feature is only currently available to a small number of NHS Trusts.

• We have made our error messaging for organ donation, prescriptions, and fingerprint, face and iris recognition clearer and more consistent.
• We fixed an issue that occurs if you use a wireless (Bluetooth) keyboard and select breadcrumb navigation.
• We changed a warning message shown when you turn on biometric login. This is now easier to understand.
• If your GP surgery uses the IT system TPP, you can now see test results up to this year. Before, you could see empty categories for future years.

• We added a character count for entering a reason for a GP appointment.
• You can now use a link to go to a form field where you need to correct an error, after we updated the form validation styling.
• When you increase font size from accessibility settings it no longer causes content in prescription orders to overlap.
• We fixed a problem with data from an API, so that all users can see and select their nominated pharmacy.
• We updated the frontend library to the NHS Digital frontend version 6.

• Screens that appear if you cannot log in, book a GP appointment or order a prescription are now clearer and more consistent.
• If your GP surgery uses the IT system EMIS, your full health record will now show any notes that healthcare staff have added about your vaccinations.
• If your GP surgery uses EMIS, we’ve fixed an issue that could sometimes show a wrong number for how many health records you have.
• We fixed an error where a yellow border could sometimes incorrectly show around certain error messages.
• If you use VoiceOver on an iPhone, iPad or Mac computer, it no longer reads out certain headings twice.

• Screens that appear if you cannot complete certain tasks now look more consistent. We are trying to make error messages easier to understand.
• We have updated the phone number for Babylon GP at Hand. You may see this if your GP surgery uses the service and you cannot book an appointment.
• If you become logged out in a web browser after being inactive for a while, a new screen will confirm you are logged out.
• Selecting ‘log out’ in a web browser now takes you to a screen confirming you are logged out.

We fixed an issue where, if your GP health record was not available, selecting ‘back’ could lead to a server error message.

Screens that appear if you cannot complete certain tasks are now more informative. You may see these screens if you have problems logging in or booking appointments. We tested different versions with users to understand what would be most helpful.

Screens that appear if you cannot complete certain tasks are now more informative. They give guidance if you have problems with appointments, messages or notifications. We tested different screens with users to understand what would be most helpful.

If your GP surgery uses accuRx, you can now ask your GP for medical advice or ask your GP surgery a question.

Improvements:

• We have improved our guidance for users who cannot order repeat prescriptions, view their GP health record, update their organ donation preferences or update notification preferences on their device. This is part of our work to make different types of guidance messages clearer and more consistent.
• Other bug fixes, and various performance, stability, and accessibility improvements.

Improvements: 

• If your GP surgery uses accuRx, you can now ask your GP for medical advice or ask your GP surgery a question. This feature is currently only available to a small number of GP surgeries.

Improvements

• You can now choose what information you share with your healthcare teams if your GP surgery uses Patients Know Best (PKB).
• When you cannot book or cancel a GP appointment, you will see an updated guidance message. This is part of our work to make different types of guidance messages clearer and more consistent.
• We fixed an issue with tabbing through the login screen using a keyboard on some Android devices.
• Other bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility improvements.

We have updated descriptions of the NHS COVID Pass to reflect that it is now only used for travel abroad. In line with government policy, the domestic NHS COVID Pass is no longer available.

Improvements

• When you book a GP appointment, the guidance text about COVID-19 symptoms now you directs you straight to the latest advice on the NHS website. 
• We have fixed issues logging in with Touch ID or Face ID on iPhone or iPad.
• We updated guidance text for when you cannot turn on push notifications because of how your Android device is set up.
• We fixed an issue with launching in-app web browsers on Android devices.
• Other bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility improvements.

Improvements

• When using a web browser to manage organ donation decisions, you will not need to log in again.
• You can view test result images if your GP surgery uses Patients Know Best (PKB).
• If you use VoiceOver for Mac, it now works correctly when you manage organ donation decisions.
• If you use VoiceOver for iPhone or iPad, it now works correctly when you manage appointments or prescriptions.
• We have updated the messaging for iOS users who do not allow push notifications.
• We fixed layout issues in landscape on Apple devices with notched displays.
• Other bug fixes, and various performance, stability, and accessibility improvements.

Improvements

• If you're registered with a GP surgery using TPP (SystmOnline), you can now view all past test results carried out by your GP surgery. This was limited to the past 6 months.
• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.
• We now only support the NHS App on iOS version 11 or above.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• People using iOS version 10 or below will see a screen letting them know their operating system is no longer supported.

Improvements

• We now only support version 2.0 of the NHS App, and above, on iOS and Android.
• We have updated the Messages area to make it easier to use.
• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• You can now log in using face or iris recognition if your Android device supports it.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• You can now add your NHS COVID Pass to your Apple Wallet.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• The first time you log in to the NHS App, you’ll get a message letting you know about some of the services you can access.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• The first time you log in to the NHS App, you’ll get a message letting you know about some of the services you can access.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• You can now view and share your NHS COVID Pass for event trials in England.

Improvements

• We have renamed “Share your COVID-19 status” to “NHS COVID Pass”.
• The Check your COVID-19 vaccine record service has been removed from Popular services on the homepage.
• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

New features

• View and share proof of your COVID-19 status for travel.
• Check and view your COVID-19 vaccination details, and report any side effects you have experienced.
• Online consultations are now available for patients' children at GP surgeries that use eConsult to provide consultations.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• We have renamed "Settings" to "More" and updated the icon.
• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.

Improvements

• Bug fixes, and various performance, stability and accessibility enhancements.