NHS App users can now get an instant smartwatch or mobile notification when their prescription is ready at nearly 2,500 chemists across England – including ASDA and Boots pharmacies.

Rob Thompson, chief digital, data and technology officer at NHS England, said: ‘Millions of app users will be able to get near real-time alerts on their smartwatches or mobiles, avoiding the need to regularly check the app or make unnecessary trips or calls to their pharmacy.

‘The new prescription ready alerts are the latest step in the NHS giving people more control over how they manage their healthcare as well as helping to reduce admin for staff.

‘Thousands of pharmacies are already live with the service, so I'd encourage all NHS App users to enable notifications in the app so they can get the full benefit.'

The NHS App has more than 39m registered users who can access a range of services, including managing hospital appointments, checking their GP health record and ordering repeat prescriptions.