How the NHS App and Cellma Patient Portal Are Modernising Acute Care
Table of Contents Help Others Discover – Click to Share! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Table of Contents Acute care is under unprecedented pressure. More than 103 million outpatient appointments take place across the NHS each year, yet around 7–8.5% result in ‘Did Not Attend’ (DNA) events, equating to approximately 650,000 missed appointments every month and costing the NHS close to £1 billion annually. At the same time, the NHS App has surpassed 39 million registered users, generating 62.3 million monthly logins and serving as the digital front door for healthcare services across England. Acute care providers still face many of the same challenges, despite the rapid growth of digital technology, such as inconsistent communication methods, administrative burden, a lack of patient engagement, and a lack of visibility into the entire patient journey. The existence of these challenges shows that now having an integrated modern patient portal (together with the NHS App) is no longer just an option but necessary for the acute care sector. The Cellma Patient Portal addresses these challenges by providing a secure, interoperable platform that integrates with the NHS App and existing hospital systems. By enabling patients to access appointments, referrals, clinical documents, and follow-up information through a connected digital experience, it helps reduce administrative burden, strengthen patient engagement, and improve communication across the entire acute care journey. Connected patient engagement supports NHS 10 year plan objectives by facilitating the transition away from hospital-centred models of care to a more connected, community-based model of care through the introduction of technology solutions. Some examples of this include virtual ward Services, PIFU pathways, NHS Online Services, and digitally enabled outpatient services. The future success of the acute care sector depends on the ability of patients to stay connected with their providers after leaving the hospital. The NHS App and Cellma patient portal combine provide an accessible, secure, and patient-centric system that will support patients, clinicians, and other health care organisations. Why the NHS App Has Become Central to Acute Care The NHS App has evolved far beyond a simple appointment management tool. Today, every acute NHS trust in England is connected to the app, making it the primary access point for patients engaging with secondary care services. Key achievements include: 39 million+ registered users 62.3 million monthly logins 25.7 million active users annually 13 million secondary care appointment views every month 6.5 million monthly visits to patient portals 500,000+ DNAs prevented 2 million+ administrative hours saved 67.8 million prescriptions ordered annually Patients can obtain their appointment information, referral details, discharge summaries, notifications and clinical documents from one system. This increased access is aiding in reducing missed appointments and increasing patient engagement and communication. But the NHS App is just part of the bigger picture. To create a successful patient interaction, there must be a solid patient portal that integrates the trust’s hospital systems, patient administration system (PAS) and electronic patient record (EPR) with one another. The Missing Link – Why Acute Care Needs a Modern Patient Portal Many healthcare organisations have invested heavily in their digital infrastructure. However, according to NHS research, most trusts need to improve their use of EPRs. Many continue to use them primarily as electronic substitutes for paper records. They are not taking advantage of this opportunity to improve patient interaction and operational efficiency. Common acute care challenges include: High outpatient DNA rates Administrative burden from appointment management Limited patient visibility into referrals and care plans Fragmented communication channels Difficulty engaging patients beyond the hospital visit Pressure on capacity and workforce resources Increasing demand for virtual and community-based care To help overcome this obstacle, the modern Cellma patient portal provides a digital link between patients and their health care provider. Cellma Patient Portal Links to Modern Acute Care The Cellma patient portal can meet the realities of modern day acute care and links directly to the NHS App, providing a seamless digital experience to patients having to navigate through multiple systems for their health care needs. The Cellma patient portal creates a connected experience for patients and health care teams by allowing information to flow safely and securely between them. Secure Appointment Management Appointment management is still one of the largest administrative challenges for providers of acute care. With the Cellma Patient Portal, patients can: 1. View appointments 2. Confirm that they will attend 3. Request appointments 4. Receive notifications and updates regarding their appointments 5. View their referral information By being integrated with the NHS app these features become much easier to use, which in turn leads to less missed appointments and more efficient use of clinical resources. Considering that digital engagement has already helped prevent more than 500,000 DNAs, the value of connected appointment management is becoming increasingly clear. Access to Clinical Information Patients increasingly expect visibility into their healthcare journey. Cellma’s patient portal enables secure access to: Referral information Clinical correspondence Discharge documentation Care plans Follow-up information By providing information directly to patients, healthcare organisations can reduce unnecessary enquiries while improving patient confidence and engagement. Supporting Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) The NHS continues to expand Patient-Initiated Follow-Up pathways as part of its strategy to reduce unnecessary appointments and give patients greater control over their care. Cellma’s patient portal supports this model by enabling patients to remain connected to their care teams while accessing the information needed to manage their ongoing treatment effectively. This approach supports both operational efficiency and patient-centred care. Interoperability: Connecting Hospital Systems, Patients, and Care Teams Interoperability is fundamental to delivering modern acute care. Without it, patient information becomes trapped in silos, creating inefficiencies and increasing administrative workload. Cellma’s patient portal is built to work within the wider healthcare ecosystem, connecting with: NHS App Electronic Patient Records (EPR) Patient Administration Systems (PAS) NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) Clinical documentation systems Diagnostic and imaging systems Laboratory systems NHS interoperability standards This interoperability ensures that patients and clinicians can access relevant information when they need it, helping support better-informed decisions and more coordinated care. Supporting the Growth of Virtual Wards The NHS is rapidly expanding virtual wards as part of its strategy to shift care closer to home. By October 2025: Virtual ward capacity reached 12,588 beds National occupancy averaged 79.8% More than 9,000 hospital admissions were avoided in one region alone Studies have demonstrated significant benefits, including: 74% reduction in hospital admissions 57% reduction in A&E attendance Substantial reductions in care costs Virtual wards are successful only with patients maintaining their connection to their healthcare teams regardless of the hospital setting. To ensure that the transition is successful from traditional hospitals to virtual wards, the Cellma patient portal provides a