A localised enhancement to the NHS App means that residents in Macclesfield now have greater control, more convenience and more confidence in how their patient records are used.

The NHS software has had the security of the app increased, so Macclesfield patients can feel more comfortable about sharing their data.

People from our town are being urged to download the app, to help make the process of booking appointments easier than ever.

Approximately 80,000 people across the borough have already downloaded the NHS App to enable them to book GP appointments, view and share their NHS COVID Pass, and access their GP care history and records.

Residents across our borough have also given their consent in the App to link their NHS login to MyCareView; a secure online system which enables anyone registered with a GP in Cheshire East to access their hospital information.

Nearly 10,000 have consented so far, which is about a fifth of the population of Macclesfield.

MyCareView's services could include letters and appointments, adding their own measurements and sharing their information with family or anyone involved in their care.

In Macclesfield and Cheshire East – with the support of a secure online system called MyCareView – any resident registered with a GP in the borough can also now access their hospital information, such as letters, appointments, add their own measurements and share it with family and anyone involved in their care.

Residents can do all of this with the convenience of a secure, easy-to-use smartphone app, which can also be accessed via the NHS login on a tablet or computer.

The project is part of a collaboration between Cheshire East Council, the Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS) and the Cheshire East Partnership.

The primary objective is to put patients at the centre of their care and provide the tools to help them take control of their own health and wellbeing.

Dr Matt Tyrer, director of public health at Cheshire East Council, said: "This collaboration is all about giving control to patients, empowering them to make the right decisions and to interact with health and care services in ways that work for them.

"It is giving Cheshire East residents a choice. I also believe that this can ultimately take away a lot of the stress experienced by some people when sharing personal information and could allow families to support each other better."

Mr Tyrer, who has been in his position since late 2019, explains the benefits of the app in the video above.

Dr Ian Hulme, a GP at Meadowside Medical Centre in Congleton, said: "Many of my patients already use the NHS App; and it makes it so much easier for them to do the simple things like reordering a repeat prescription, or booking an appointment to see me or one of my colleagues.

"With the MyCareView functionality built in, patients can also see hospital appointments and letters, track their symptoms or add measurements such as blood pressure to their record. It will make life so much easier for patients and for those of us who care for them."

The two main hospitals in the borough – Leighton Hospital in Crewe and Macclesfield District General Hospital – are also using MyCareView to share health information, which means that patients can have confidence that their details are secure, accurate and up-to-date.

Dr Mark Nicol, an emergency consultant at East Cheshire NHS Trust, which runs Macclesfield District General Hospital, said: "Having your GP record and hospital letters securely available on your smartphone is brilliant and so convenient. It's also changing the way we provide care to our patients."

Getting started with the NHS App with MyCareView is simple. Just download the NHS App for either iOS or Android and follow the on-screen instructions to get started.

Apple users can download the app here.

Macclesfield Android users can download it here.

Please note, this app is separate from the NHS COVID-19 App.

More information on MyCareView is available via this link.

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