The number of repeat prescriptions ordered via the NHS app has increased by 92% in the last year, according to new figures released by NHS England (NSHE).

And patients have been reminded that they can use the app to order repeat prescriptions during bank holidays.

Over 500,000 repeat prescriptions are booked through the NHS App every week, NHSE said.

In 2022/23, patients ordered 25 million repeat prescriptions via the NHS App, compared to 13 million in 2021/22.

That includes 2.4 million repeat prescriptions in April 2023, compared with 1.7 million last April and 393,00 in April 2021.

In total, more than 42 million repeat prescriptions have been ordered through the app since it was launched on 31 December 2018.

Chief pharmaceutical officer for England (CPhO), David Webb, reminded patients that they could use the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions during the upcoming bank holidays.

‘Patients can order repeat prescriptions through the app at a time and date convenient to them and access community pharmacy information about local healthcare advice and services available during the bank holidays,’ he said.

Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay said: ‘Technology is transforming the way we deliver healthcare for patients, and I’m determined that the NHS App plays a vital role in this.’

He added that the app was ‘freeing up valuable time for clinicians and helping people access services easily and conveniently from the comfort of their own homes’.

Over 32 million people were signed up to the NHS App as of April 2023, and more than 28 million of these have linked it to their NHS account, allowing them to access services like ordering prescriptions.

Patients can also use the app to select their nominated pharmacy.

Last year, almost one billion prescriptions were issued via the electronic prescription service (EPS) in England, making up 95% of the total number of prescriptions issued.