Streeting: Swinney is an analogue politician in a digital age

The UK Health Secretary has described Scotland’s First Minister as an “analogue politician in a digital age”.

Wes Streeting said Scottish patients were “missing out” due to John Swinney and the Scottish Government’s failure to create an NHS app.

Mr Streeting said there was “no excuse” for the devolved government not have to have introduced an app similar to the one in England, which has been in place for six years.

It follows his pledge to improve the use of technology in the NHS south of the border.

Last week, Mr Streeting launched plans to give patients in England a “doctor in your pocket” as he announced improvements to the country’s NHS app, which already has 35 million users.

It currently allows patients to book appointments with their GP, order prescriptions and manage hospital appointments.

Plans to create an NHS Scotland app are under way but are currently limited to a trial for dermatology patients in NHS Lanarkshire. A national rollout is not expected before the end of the decade.

Mr Streeting said the lack of an app in Scotland showed why Scotland “can’t afford a third decade of the SNP”.

In John Swinney, the SNP have an analogue politician in a digital age, and patients in Scotland are missing out

The Health Secretary said: “The UK Labour Government is embracing technology to deliver a better NHS for patients and their families, giving them more control and transparency over their treatment.

“In John Swinney, the SNP have an analogue politician in a digital age, and patients in Scotland are missing out.

“The SNP have record funding and complete control of the NHS in Scotland, there’s no excuses for this, and it just shows why Scotland can’t afford a third decade of the SNP and needs a new direction with Anas Sarwar as first minister.”

A spokesperson for Neil Gray said: “Scotland’s planned online app is for both health and social care and we will launch it in Lanarkshire by the end of 2025.

“National rollout will commence through 2026 and we will publish a national rollout plan later this summer.

“We will leave Labour to carry out personal attacks – the SNP Government’s focus is on putting in place the lasting solutions which will deliver sustained improvements for patients.

“As Wes Streeting knows, Scotland’s core A&E performance has been the best in the UK for the last 10 years, we have more GPs per head than south of the border, and we are building on this with record funding for health and social care this year.”