Patients and regular followers of the Frome Medical Practice will know that the GP surgery have for several months been keen advocates of their patients using the NHS App.

Once downloaded, the NHS App gives patients access to their full medical record, which includes test results.

Once we return to more 'normal' times, patients will also be able to use the NHS App to make online clinical appointments, as they have done before the Coronavirus pandemic.

Rachel Haupt was earlier this year appointed as the practice's first Digital Health Connector, responsible for encouraging the practice's 30,000 patients to sign up to the service.

From a standing start in the Spring, by the beginning of June, the practice had already succeeded in signing up more than 900 patients, more than any other practice in Somerset. By the end of July, the team has seen a remarkable 1456 patients sign up to the NHS App, now making it the leading practice in the whole country in 'sign-up' numbers.

Rachel herself is delighted at the quick progress we have made.

'The NHS App is a real game changer,' says Rachel. 'The take up from our patients has been fantastic as the App provides a simple and secure way of using many different NHS services, including patients now being able to check out their symptoms online. Patients also like the App as it has a rigorous security procedure that I go through with them, before they start to use on either their smartphone or tablet.'

One of the practice's patients that Rachel has taken through the system on how to go 'live' with the App is Anne Hills, the Leader of Frome Town Council.

' I am glad I now have easy access to my medical records, as well as being able to book appointments at Frome Medical Practice and order repeat prescriptions,' says Anne. 'It was easy to download and install the app on my iPad. I am reassured that the system is secure, and only I can see my records. Rachel phoned me to check security details, and then took the final steps to give me access.I think this app is a good way, as well as using the phone, to easily make appointments or order repeat prescriptions.'

'The NHS App makes it quicker and easier for patients to access vital NHS services,' adds Rachel. 'It also helps free up staff and resources at the practice. Whilst it is great to be the practice with the most signed up patients to the App, this is only very much the beginning as we will continue to encourage as many of our own patients to sign up as possible over the coming months.

"We are proud to be leading the way on the NHS App and we hope to showthe benefits to other practices across the country and share what we have learned."

Existing patients of the Frome Medical Practice who are interested in signing up can find out more by visiting the surgery's website here: the FMP website