AskFirst (formerly Ask NHS)

I would highly recommended this app. It is so useful and accurate (based on my experience). Good for times when you want answers but feel it’s not urgent enough to call the GP. It’s always available. Also good for that extra bit of privacy. Additionally what makes this app fantastic is that they book appointments for you. (Which is why they ask for a postcode), helps locate you as quick as possible I guess. Thank you for creating this app.

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It looks like a promising app but does not offer me the key issue about my health right now. Currently having ongoing NHS treatment I would have liked to use the app to find my next appointment. However the app does not seem to have sufficient security yet to verify who I am and does not have the links/trust of the NHS to access their records. Clearly this is high profile option and needs the highest security so I suspect it will not have the clearance for some time yet? On top of these issues it appears to be produced by a non-uk organisation with little or no connection to the NHS. So it might potentially lead to fraud or misuse. I will check it from time to time and talk to a senior NHS manager I know to understand just how good or trustworthy the app is!!? For now I will not use it again until it ‘grows up’?! Dr A N

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There could of course be something that I am doing wrong but there does not appear to be any VoiceOver compatibility on this app. I appreciate that this service is in its infancy and it’s just going to get better and better. But if you really wish for NHS services to be accessible for all, now would be the best time to seek advice on how to ensure that your blind patients can actually use this. I have taken a screenshot of this app and used an OCR programme to read the screen and I am disappointed that I have to need to have to write this review. This app looks useful and might’ve actually helped me work out my next steps before worrying anyone so it’s a shame that with speech on the latest iOS on iPhone 7, I’m confronted with a blank screen when there’s text there. Change this please

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My surgery was one in London to pilot this - and never ever does it “connect to my surgery” in the year plus I had this app (it shows that I have chosen the correct surgery but when it comes to linking to my surgery re. Appts and to call - never works) I reported to AskNHS and to my surgery and they have no idea why! Useless crap! Might us well use the 111 services online! Also, poor outcomes, I disregard the advice as told me for an eye infection to go to Pharmacy and thankfully I ignored went GP and found out I had near optical cellulitis and had to be treated urgently as at risk of going blind! I showed my gp my responses and he said that should have told me to seek medical assistance immediately / as I entered everything correctly. Not a trustworthy app! Avoid!

Absolutely useful service ! I get really paranoid at times with symptoms if someone’s ill in my family. So I’m always online checking and researching for answers. This saves me so much time reading through different articles online and is a more reliable source. Also would save me the unnecessary trips to the doctors or making any unnecessary phone calls to 111 or my surgery. Brilliant service from a reputable organisation! Great job with the app NHS!