Recent NHS data shows 16 million GP appointments missed in 2025, including 4.3% no-shows. This equals one full day of unused slots at every GP practice in England monthly.

A national survey reveals nearly one in four people skipped appointments due to forgetting or arriving late. Despite scheduling 8.4 million additional appointments—reaching 376 million total—the service grapples with tight budgets, funding reductions, and longer patient waits.

New Campaign Targets Avoidable No-Shows

The NHS launches the ‘Tap the NHS App’ initiative, promoting notification activation through ads on pharmacy bags, radio, and social media. The app sends reminders, enables cancellations or rescheduling, and handles repeat prescriptions.

Users benefit from an ‘Amazon-style’ prescription service rolled out with 2,000 pharmacies nationwide, tracking order progress and collection readiness.

Health Leaders Weigh In

Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation Minister, states: “In the busy lives we all lead, it can be easy to forget an NHS appointment or need to reorganise it at the last minute. That’s why I’d encourage everyone to tap the NHS App and turn on notifications – so you can stay on top of your appointments and let us know if you need to reschedule. When you do, someone else can be seen instead, helping us continue to cut waiting times.”

Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, adds: “It’s fantastic to see that GPs provided more than 8 million extra appointments for their patients in 2025, and I hope this new campaign will help increase that number even more in 2026. I’d encourage all NHS App users to make the most of what the app has to offer so they never forget an appointment.”

How to Enable NHS App Notifications

Download the NHS App from the Apple Store or Google Play and log in. Tap the account icon (person silhouette), select ‘notifications’ under settings, then ‘go to device settings’ to enable alerts. Return to the app and update contact details for key healthcare updates.

Growing Shift to Online GP Access

Latest Office for National Statistics data indicates patients increasingly contact GPs online for health issues. Over 75.2% of adults now find it easy to reach their practice, up from 71.6% last year. More than 40 million people have registered with the NHS App.