More than 16m repeat prescriptions were via the NHS App in the last year, following 22m new registrations, according to NHS Digital.

In June, 1.8m repeat prescriptions were ordered, and the app has now recorded more than 28m sign-ups in total, more than 24m of which have fully verified their identity.

Simon Bolton, interim chief executive at NHS Digital, said: ‘The NHS App is a great example of how technology is being used to help patients take control of their healthcare in a convenient, secure and timely way…

‘It's great to see use of the app continuing to increase ordered, helping millions of people access healthcare services across England directly from their phone.’

Dr Timothy Ferris, NHS director of transformation, said: ‘The NHS App is already in the pockets of millions of people, providing easy access to crucial everyday NHS services like repeat prescriptions. Our vision is to transform the NHS App into a front door for the NHS, with many exciting new features and changes planned over the coming months and years from better access to your GP record, to booking your Covid vaccine appointments.’

The Department of Health and Social Care is targeting 75% of the adult population to be registered to use the NHS App by March 2024.

Its Plan for Digital Health and Social Care, published last month, also renewed its commitment to supporting the rollout of shared care records in community pharmacy.

The app was the most downloaded free iPhone app in England in 2021, peaking in May 2021, coinciding with the launch of the NHS Covid Pass. On 17 May 2021, when the NHS Covid Pass launched, around 220,000 people created an NHS login.