The feature is designed to help reduce unnecessary calls and visits to pharmacists with 45% of calls estimated to be from patients asking if their prescription is ready.

Secretary of state for health and social care, Wes Streeting, said: ‘By harnessing the power and efficiency of modern tech, we're saving patients time, driving productivity and freeing up hardworking pharmacists to do what they do best – helping patients, not providing status updates.

‘This is just one example of our mission to shift the NHS from analogue to digital as we continue to push our health service into the modern age through our Plan for Change.'

Almost 1,500 high street chemists, including Boots, have signed up to the service, which is expected to be made available to nearly 5,000 more pharmacies over the next 12 months – covering 60% of those in England.

The prescription tracking feature is just one of many planned improvements to the NHS App, which will soon expand to offer patients more appointment options and greater choice as part of the Government's commitment to put patients in control of their healthcare and reduce waiting lists.