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The Herald Scotland

Labour health minister attacks SNP over NHS Scotland app

Plans to create an NHS Scotland Digital Front Door have been under way since 2022, but the first iteration will not be rolled out until the end of this year, starting in Lanarkshire before a national rollout. READ MORE The app — which, according to Freedom of Information requests, the Scottish Government had spent £5.65 million on by March this year — is expected to include access to both health and social care data and services. Last week, Mr Streeting launched plans to give patients in England a 'doctor in your pocket' as he announced improvements to the country's NHS app, which already has 35 million users. John Swinney at the Royal Highland ShowThe app currently allows patients to book GP appointments, order prescriptions and manage hospital visits. Mr Streeting said the lack of a national app in Scotland showed why the country 'can't afford a third decade of the SNP'. He said: 'The UK Labour Government is embracing technology to deliver a better NHS for patients and their families, giving them more control and transparency over their treatment. 'In John Swinney, the SNP have an analogue politician in a digital age, and patients in Scotland are missing out. 'The SNP have record funding and complete control of the NHS in Scotland. There's no excuses for this, and it just shows why Scotland can't afford a third decade of the SNP and needs a new direction with Anas Sarwar as First Minister.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment. Mr Swinney confirmed plans for the launch of the app in a speech on improving public services and NHS renewal at the National Robotarium in Edinburgh in January. He said: 'As a much-needed addition to improve patients' interaction with the NHS, there will be a Scottish health and social care app. 'This Digital Front Door will begin rollout from the end of this year, starting in Lanarkshire, and, over time, it will become an ever more central, ever more important access and management point for care in Scotland.' READ MORE Meanwhile, the UK Government has said £5.8 billion of the £9.1bn uplift to the Scottish budget over the next three years will come from increased health spending. A breakdown published on Monday shows the biggest share of new funding comes via the Barnett formula as a result of health investment in England. While the Scottish Government can allocate money as it sees fit, ministers have repeatedly said they will pass on health-related increases to NHS Scotland. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the settlement marked 'the largest real terms settlement for the Scottish Government since devolution'.