The NHS App messaging service provides a secure inbox that will allow patients to start receiving messages from health and care services such as their GP surgery via the NHS App, instead of traditional channels like SMS (text message) or letter. Patients will get a notification from the NHS App when they receive a message in their secure inbox, if they have notifications enabled on their device. Notifications preferences may take 24 hours to take effect.
Over time, as well as GP surgeries, other health care services such as the national COVID vaccine service, or local community services, will use the NHS App to send messages to their patients. We hope that eventually it will be the main way that citizens of England receive their healthcare messages.
How it works
NHS App messaging is a new service which lets you send NHS App users an in-app message where they would normally receive a message via a more traditional channel, like SMS.
It is the patient’s choice whether to receive messages in this way. In order to have this choice, they will need to switch on NHS App notifications on their device, so that they are prompted to read the message in the app. This can be done in the NHS App or in the device settings. Notifications preferences may take 24 hours to take effect.
If a message is not successfully delivered to the NHS App, your messaging service provider will automatically send a message via another channel such as SMS. This is to ensure the patient receives the message.
There are some messages currently not supported by NHS App messaging, such as time critical messages. The messaging service supplier will ensure these messages are not sent to the app.
How it's different to other messaging features
There are currently multiple messaging services available in the NHS App, including:
- NHS App messaging (the new service described on this page)
- GP surgery messaging (referred to as IM1 PFS messaging where patients can contact the surgery)
- Request care or ask your GP surgery a question (online consultation request)
- consultations, events and messaging (available through personal health record like Patient Knows Best)