How do you use the NHS App to check and manage your hospital appointments?

What has changed since April 2026?

Until recently, most people had no way to check the status of a hospital referral unless they phoned the hospital or waited for a letter. That has now changed. NHS England completed a rollout in April 2026 that means around 64% of all hospital appointments across every trust in England are now visible in the NHS App — and more are being added every month.

This is a significant shift. If your GP refers you to a specialist, you can now open the app and see where your referral is in the system, which hospital you have been referred to, and — if you have a directly bookable appointment — choose your preferred time slot without waiting for a phone call or letter. For people who manage long-term conditions and see multiple specialists, this can save hours of time and a great deal of anxiety.

Who can use the appointments feature?

To view your hospital appointments and referrals in the NHS App you need to be 16 or over and registered with a GP practice in England. You will also need an NHS login — a free account you set up with your email address and a form of photo ID. Once your identity is verified (usually within a few minutes using a smartphone camera), you have access to all the app’s features.

You do not need the latest smartphone. The NHS App works on most Android and Apple devices, and there is also a website version at nhs.uk/nhs-app if you prefer to use a laptop or desktop computer. If you cannot get online at all, you can still manage referrals by calling 119 or the number on your appointment letter.

How do you find your appointments in the app?

Once you are logged in, tap Appointments from the home screen. This shows you:

• Any upcoming hospital or specialist appointments
• Referrals that are awaiting booking — where you are on a waiting list
• GP appointments you have booked through the app
• Notifications about changes, reminders, or documents to complete before your visit

For referrals made through the NHS e-Referral Service (which most GP referrals now are), you may be asked to choose your hospital and time slot directly in the app. You pick from a list of clinics your GP has selected as appropriate, then choose a specific date and time that suits you. Once confirmed, it becomes a booked appointment in the system.

One practical tip: set up notifications in the app settings so you receive a reminder a few days before your appointment. You will also be alerted if anything changes — for example if a clinic moves location or your appointment is rescheduled by the hospital.

Can you reschedule or cancel through the app?

Yes — for many appointments, you can request to reschedule or cancel directly within the app, without having to phone the hospital and wait on hold. This applies mainly to your first appointment for a given referral. If you need to change a follow-up appointment, you will usually need to contact the hospital directly, as follow-ups are managed by the department rather than the central booking system.

If you do need to cancel, please do so as early as possible. NHS outpatient appointments that are cancelled late or missed without notice cost the health service around £160 each — and a prompt cancellation means the slot can be offered to someone else on the waiting list.

What do you do if your appointment is not showing?

Not all appointments are visible in the app yet — around a third are still managed through hospital-specific systems that are not yet integrated. If you cannot see an expected appointment, here is what to check:

• Wait 24 hours after your GP referral. It can take a day for the referral to appear in the system.
• Check your NHS login email. Some trusts send a separate email with a link to their own patient portal rather than using the app’s built-in appointments section.
• Check the NHS App’s messages section. Some trusts send appointment details as messages within the app rather than in the appointments tab.
• Call the hospital or 119. If you have waited more than two weeks after a GP referral and cannot see anything, contact the hospital’s booking team directly. Have your NHS number to hand — it is shown on the app’s home screen.

What else can you do with the NHS App while you are there?

The appointments feature is just one part of what the NHS App can do. Once you have it set up, it is worth knowing about:

• Prescription requests: Order repeat prescriptions and see when they are ready for collection, without phoning the surgery.
• Test results: View blood test and other results as soon as your GP has reviewed and shared them — often faster than waiting for a call.
• GP health record: See your summary of conditions, medications, allergies, and vaccinations.
• NHS 111 online: Get advice for non-emergency symptoms without calling, and be referred directly to out-of-hours services if needed.

Setting up the NHS App takes around 10 to 15 minutes, and you only need to verify your identity once. Many people find that after a short initial setup, it removes the need for a significant number of phone calls and letters every year.