SNP First Minister John Swinney is an “analogue politician in a digital age,” according to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

The claim came as Mr Streeting announced plans to upgrade NHS England’s app — used by 35 million people — to give patients a “doctor in your pocket.”

Mr Streeting argued that Scottish patients are “missing out” because six years after its introduction in England, the Scottish app had not made it beyond a limited trial in Lanarkshire.

He said: “The UK Labour government is embracing technology to deliver a better NHS for patients and their families.

“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.”

Hitting back, a spokesperson for Scottish health secretary Neil Gray insisted an app would be rolled out next year, adding: “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.”