Mothers-to-be using St Helier, Epsom, St Peter’s and St George’s hospitals can now bypass their GP and book directly with a midwife.

Pregnant women used to have to receive a referral from their doctor when choosing where they wanted to give birth.

The NHS hopes its new ‘touch of a button’ feature on its app will free up tens of thousands of pre-natal appointment slots every year.

But the Royal College of Midwives is warning against widening inequalities among those without easy smartphone access.