Launched in late 2022, the NHS 24 Online app has been transforming how people access healthcare information and services.

With more than 20,000 downloads so far, the mobile app offers an alternative solution for people to find out about symptoms and understand the next steps for treatment.

The app will be particularly impactful for patients in the Orkney and Shetland islands. Both island groups of Orkney and Shetland are located off the Scottish mainland, across the North Sea, Orkney 10 miles away, and Shetlands the northernmost part of the UK at over 100 miles out.

“You can imagine people on the islands live quite remotely from different health services,” says Anthony McDavitt, Director of Pharmacy for NHS Shetland and Orkney. In his role, McDavitt is responsible for all pharmacy sectors — community, hospital and primary care — across the islands.

“There are areas where people may have to travel great distances to get the clinical appointments they need, or to understand what their next steps are,” explains McDavitt. “With this app we can link people up with the different services to determine where to go first. It’s a great tool to help connect the dots for people seeking care.”