Dear Chris and Andrea,  

Data on NHS app 

I am writing following concerns over the use of data in two recent press releases relating to the new NHS app and the benefits realised as part of its rollout. The first press release, Major NHS App expansion cuts waiting times, was published by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 April 2025 and the second press release, Patients to receive reminders and test results via the NHS App, was published jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England was published on 7 June 2025.  

These press releases contained a wide range of statements including that the NHS App has stopped 1.5 million hospital appointments being missed, saving 5.7 million staff hours since July 2024. When published, the underlying data and analysis supporting these statements had not been made available in the public domain. This means that it was not possible to independently verify the claims that had been made and that there was no information available on how these figures had been calculated or any indication of the quality or reliability of the estimates.  

This goes against the principles of intelligent transparency which state that data used by government in the public domain should be made available to all in an accessible and timely way. In addition, sources for figures should be cited and appropriate explanation of context, including strengths and limitations, communicated clearly alongside figures. We consider that intelligent transparency should be the default approach for communicating data and analysis so that public bodies build trust and confidence in how data are used and, crucially, in the policies and wider decisions based on them. 

I am pleased to see data on NHS app usage has now been published and will continue to be released on a monthly basis. I also note that data on NHS app benefits was released earlier today.  

As Heads of Profession for Statistics, you champion the appropriate use and release of data and statistics within your organisations, and I appreciate the steps you have taken so far to resolve this issue. I encourage you to follow up with colleagues within your departments to ensure that no further communications of data on the NHS app are released publicly which do not follow the principles of intelligent transparency.  

If my team can support you in this regard, do please let me know. 

Yours sincerely  

Ed Humpherson
Director General for OSR