UK Minister Criticizes Scotland NHS App Delay Amid Digital Health Expansion

Wes Streeting, UK Health Secretary, has sharply criticized Scotland's NHS app development, calling First Minister John Swinney an "analogue politician in a digital age" and labeling Scotland's NHS app as "second-rate." While England has had an NHS app for six years with 35 million users and plans to enhance it to offer features like AI doctors by 2028, Scotland's version will only undergo a limited trial at the end of 2025 with a full rollout not expected before 2030. Streeting argues that with record funding and full control, the SNP government in Scotland has no excuse for the delay, urging a new direction under Anas Sarwar. The Scottish Government has responded that their app will cover both health and social care, starting with dermatology patients in Lanarkshire, and intends a national rollout beginning in 2026. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the NHS app's accessibility for older and disabled patients, with Streeting assuring that alternative access methods and community-based training will help ensure no patient is left behind in the digital transition.