People in the North East and Yorkshire are being reminded to use the NHS App over the festive season to help manage their health. The message from the region’s Medical Director for Primary Care, and GP, Dr Faisel Baig comes as NHS figures show a record number of people are using the App as a ‘digital front door’, open 24 hours a day.

In the North East and Yorkshire there were 3.6 million unique users of the NHS App this year, up more than 614,000 from just over 3m in 2024.

Dr Baig, GP and Primary Care Medical Director for NHS North East and Yorkshire (pictured), said: “I’d like to encourage anyone who needs it, to log into the NHS App over the festive season to take advantage of the wide range of features it offers – from tracking when your prescription is ready, to checking on the latest health advice.”

The NHS App features an ‘Amazon-style’ tracker that allows people to check the status of their medication – and it has been used 715,000 times since May. This means you can be sure your prescription is ready before visiting the pharmacy. A new family feature makes it easier for parents and carers to manage their loved ones’ health.

Download the NHS App free on the App store or on Google Play. The NHS App also links to NHS 111 online which offers help for a wide range of symptoms and medical conditions.

Video: Yorkshire-based NHS App ambassadors Katie Day and Craig Benn discuss how features of the digital tool are particularly useful over Christmas. NHS App ambassadors are NHS staff who help staff and patients get the most out of the NHS App.

Dr Baig added: “People should still call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life is at risk.”

NHS figures show across England more than 313,000 people used the NHS App on Christmas Day 2024 (including more than 50,000 in the North East and Yorkshire), with more than 200 logins every 60 seconds on average. NHS advice pages on norovirus, flu and chest infections were the most visited conditions through the app and the nhs.uk website.

Between December last year and November 2025, 11.3m repeat prescriptions were ordered through the NHS App by people in the North East and Yorkshire, NHS figures show.