Scotland Plans Nationwide NHS MyCare App Launch From 2026 To Address Waiting Lists

Scotland is set to launch the MyCare app in April 2026, marking a significant advancement in the nation's health and social care system by providing patients with a secure digital identity and access to personal health information and services. The rollout will begin with a trial for dermatology outpatients in Lanarkshire in December 2025, before expanding to hospital-based services and eventually encompassing GP practices, pharmacies, social work, and social care by 2030. Health Secretary Neil Gray described the app as the "single biggest digital innovation" in Scotland's healthcare, aiming to reduce waiting lists and bring care closer to patients' homes. Despite the positive outlook, critics have expressed concerns about the app's delayed launch compared to NHS England's app, which has been available since 2019, as well as potential security issues and the exclusion of non-smartphone users. The Scottish Conservatives have criticized the government for delivering a scaled-back version after significant investment, calling it a "half-baked" effort. Overall, the MyCare app is expected to transform how Scots manage and receive healthcare, although the full suite of features will not be available until the end of the decade.