Swinney an ‘analogue politician in a digital age' says Streeting
Wes Streeting said there was 'no excuse' for the devolved government not to have introduced an app that allows patients to book appointments with their GP, order prescriptions and manage hospital appointments.
A similar app was rolled out in England six years ago.
Plans to create an NHS Scotland app are underway 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 warned patients in Scotland are 'missing out' and said it showed why Scotland 'can't afford a third decade of the SNP'.
He is the first senior Westminster politician to publicly criticise the running of Scotland's NHS, which has been under fire for lengthy waits.
Mr Streeting 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 excuse 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.'
It is not the first time that Scotland's First Minister has been accused of being slow to bring the Scottish NHS into the 21st century.
Earlier this year, Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, made similar remarks after GPs said they looked 'on with frustration' at the digital health tech divide between England and Scotland, citing the delay in launching tools such as the NHS Scotland app.
Mr Streeting has pledged to improve the use of technology in the NHS south of the border and last week announced improvements to the country's NHS app, which already has 35 million users.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said the app would 'become, as technology develops, like having a doctor in your pocket, providing you with 24-hour advice, seven days a week'.
The 'supercharged' version of the app is promised to be delivered by 2028 and is expected to allow patients to book and check hospital appointments, interact with specialists or visit an 'AI doctor' for advice.
An app for the Scottish health service, announced in 2021, is not expected to launch on a trial basis until December.
Its functionality will initially be severely restricted, with its only practical purpose being to allow dermatology patients served by one health board, NHS Lanarkshire, to be notified of appointments.
If successful, rollouts will continue in other areas until its full introduction in five years.
'Sustained improvements for patients'
According to the latest official health statistics, the number of patients waiting more than 78 weeks for treatment in Scotland has increased to 38,070, while in England the figure has halved to 1,154. Cancer treatment waiting time standards are also being missed.
A spokesperson for Neil Gray, the Scottish Health Secretary 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.'
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