NHS App upgrades; Call for greater inclusivity in clinical research; PIF member wins award
Patients to receive reminders and test results via the NHS App
A £50 million upgrade to the NHS App will see more patients receiving appointments, screening invitations and other important information directly to their smartphones. This year, 270 million messages are expected to be sent through the NHS App – an increase of 70 million on the last financial year. In 2023 to 2024, there were around 8 million missed appointments in elective care. Around 1 in 3 people missed a screening appointment. Under the update, push notifications will remind patients about upcoming appointments and relay important messages. The NHS is asking patients to download the NHS App and turn on notifications to make sure they receive important updates. Where app messaging is not available, communications will be sent via SMS and then by letter as a last resort. Accessible communications will continue to be supported.
Read more about the app upgrade on the GOV.UK website here.
Report calls for greater inclusivity in research
A new report calls for meaningful improvements in diversity and inclusivity in clinical research. Achieving inclusivity in clinical research is based on a meeting hosted by PIF member The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). The event aimed to understand the barriers which might prevent people from participating in trials, including practical barriers and a lack of community engagement and trust. The report calls for action by industry, government, charities, regulators and the NHS to encourage greater inclusivity in research.
Read the full report on the ABPI website here.
PIF member wins patient engagement award
PIF member Cognitant Group has won an award for its interactive guide for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. The Kidney Essentials programme empowers CKD patients with accessible, personalised and evidence-based support to improve self-management and reduce strain on NHS services. It was co-created by Cognitant and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Cognitant won the the Best Overall Initiative category at the Made with Patients Awards 2025 which celebrate individuals and initiatives advancing patient engagement in healthcare. Kidney Essentials was co-created with patients and clinicians. It has been shown to significantly improve patient understanding of their condition and reduce waiting times.
Find out more about the awards on the Patient Engagement Synapse website here.
Study: The impact of remote consultations in healthcare
A study exploring the impact of a shift to remote consultations has found there is substantial room for improvement in their development and implementation. The study explored the perceptions and experiences of remote consultations among mental health and cardiology patients and GPs and cardiology clinicians. Researchers found the advantages of remote consultations relate primarily to efficiency. Disadvantages relate to the lessening of interpersonal contact and in the relational aspects of the patient-clinician relationship. There was pragmatic acceptance of remote routine consultations by both patients and clinicians. Looking ahead there was a preference for a balanced hybrid model of remote and face-to-face appointments.
Read the full study via the BMJ website here.
New women's health visual resource published
The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and the Scottish Government have produced a visual resource to highlight the importance of maintaining good long-term health for women. The resource has been created in support of the Women’s Health Plan and brings together four graphic resources that were produced to summarise content from webinars on women’s health. The four graphics relate to prioritising pelvic health, taking care of bowel health, myth-busting women’s heart health and optimising future health. They also include links to the webinars. The visual resource is part of a series which also includes menopause and menstrual health.
Download the resource and find out more on the ALLIANCE website here.
Review of digital interventions for social anxiety
Researchers have reviewed and analysed digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) to see how effective they are for children, adolescents and young adults with social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms. While further research is necessary to provide conclusive evidence, the systematic review and meta-analysis revealed potential to SAD symptoms. Researchers said their study highlights the need for greater inclusivity in DMHIs research and design. They emphasised the need for future studies to encompass participants from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The review concluded, if these considerations are addressed, DMHIs hold promise in bridging the care gap and improving access to psychotherapeutic interventions for all young people.