Labour will digitise the red book given to parents to record
children's medical records, as part of a series of changes to the
NHS app.
The reforms will see children's health records kept on parents'
NHS app. Parents and the NHS will be able to easily see if
children are behind on jabs or check ups, with automatic
notifications to notify parents and the option to book an
appointment through the app.
The red book has been provided to new parents by the NHS for the
past thirty years. In 2013, promised to make the NHS
paperless by 2018, by later said “I am quite relieved that most
people seem to have forgotten that I made that promise.” In 2018,
Matt Hancock pledged to digitise the red book, but also failed to
deliver.
MMR vaccination rates for children have fallen for each of the
past 7 years. The UK lost its measles-free status in 2019. There
have been hundreds of cases and outbreaks across the country in
the past year.
Labour's plans will allow the NHS to identify which children are
unvaccinated, send information to parents about the importance
and safety of the MMR vaccine, and invite them to appointments to
protect their children.
Wes Streeting MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary,
said:
“A child born today will live to see the
22nd century and things we can't begin to
imagine. Labour wants them to be part of the healthiest
generation that ever lived. That's why we will digitise the red
book, so children's health records are on the NHS App.
“This major step will transform children's healthcare and will
mean more children protected against measles. Now measles is
back. It's hard to think of a clearer sign of Britain's
decline under the Tories.
“With the red book on the app, the NHS will be able to notify
every parent of an unprotected child, give them accurate
information about the MMR vaccine, and invite their child to get
vaccinated. That's how a modern health service would tackle this
public health crisis.”
Labour will also commit to give patients greater control over
their own healthcare by developing the NHS app.
New figures from a written parliamentary answer from the Health
Minister reveal that just 0.6% of GP appointments are booked
through the app, and the majority of practices do not allow
patients to use the app to book appointments.
Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the Labour Party,
said:
“In 2024, patients still wait on the phone at 8am, or even queue
up in person, just to see a doctor. It's no wonder so many people
don't bother or don't have time, illness is caught too late,
pressures on the NHS pile up, and lives are lost.
“Labour will give power to the patient. When you receive a
diagnosis, you will be told what care to expect, and when by. You
will be able to see which GP practices near you provide the best
care for your condition, so you can switch if you want to. You'll
be able to refer yourself direct to specialists, so you don't
have to wait a month for a pointless GP appointment, and GPs time
isn't wasted on box-ticking.
“The app shouldn't just be for healthcare, but healthier living
too. When you reach the right age, you'll receive notifications
for jabs, tests and screening, to catch diseases like breast and
bowel cancer early.”
Ends
Notes
- With Labour's plans for the NHS app, all patients will:
Receive notifications when they become eligible for vaccinations
and screenings, to catch illness like bowel and breast
cancer earlier
Be told what care to expect from the NHS when they are diagnosed
with long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes, and COPD,
including what terms of scans, appointments, and follow ups
Be informed which GP practices in their local area are providing
the best care for their conditions, so they can choose to
register with the best performers if they wish to
Have access to their own medical records on their phone
Be able to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and
self-refer to specialists where appropriate
Patients will also be invited to take part in clinical trials, in
an effort to boost life sciences and develop more medicines in
Britain.
If they are a caregiver for a child, receive information about
health checks and immunisations, and prompts to book appointments
for the child.
- MMR coverage for children aged 5 has consistently decreased
since 2016/17, according to NHS figures https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-immunisation-statistics/england-2022-23/6in-1-vaccine#mmr-vaccine
