The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services. Download the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet via the Google play or App store. You can also access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.

You must be aged 13 or over to use the NHS App. You also need to be registered with a GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man. Find out more about who can use the NHS App.

What you can do with the NHS App

You need to prove who you are to get full access to the NHS App. With full access you can:

• order repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect them
• book and manage appointments
• view your GP health record to see information like your allergies and medicines (if your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information like test results)
• register your organ donation decision
• choose how the NHS uses your data
• view your NHS number (find out what your NHS number is)
• use NHS 111 online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you

Before proving who you are, you can use the NHS App to:

• search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments
• find NHS services near you

Other services

Depending on your GP surgery or hospital, you may be able to use the NHS App to:

• message your GP surgery or a health professional online
• contact your GP surgery using an online form and get a reply
• access health services on behalf of someone you care for
• view and manage your hospital and other healthcare appointments
• view useful links your doctor or health professional has shared with you
• view and manage care plans

Keeping your data secure

To access the NHS App, you will need to set up an NHS login and prove who you are. Your NHS App then securely connects to information from your GP surgery.

If your device supports fingerprint detection or facial recognition, you can use it to log in to your NHS App each time, instead of using a password and security code.

How To Turn On Notifications in the NHS App

Please see the following article for the latest guidance on how to turn on notifications in the NHS App:

Managing NHS App Notifications

The NHS App Messaging Service

The NHS App messaging service provides a secure inbox that will allow patients to start receiving messages from health and care services such as their GP surgery via the NHS App, instead of traditional channels like SMS (text message) or letter. Patients will get a notification from the NHS App when they receive a message in their secure inbox if they have notifications enabled on their devices.

Over time, as well as GP surgeries, other health care services such as the national COVID vaccine service, or local community services, will use the NHS App to send messages to their patients. We hope that eventually, it will be the main way that citizens of England receive their healthcare messages.

Benefits to Patients

Saves Money

The NHS spends millions of pounds on SMS costs each year. NHS App messaging is available to NHS-commissioned services for free.

Safer and More Secure

Messaging via the NHS App is much more secure than other channels like SMS. SMS can be vulnerable to interception and spoofing. For patients, this means you will always know who messages come from, rather than seeing messages from unidentified mobile numbers.

Better content

When sending messages via SMS, the length is limited. NHS App messages can be longer and richer in content, for example with link texts and interactive elements.

f you have proxy access to the health records of a family member or someone else you look after, here is how to switch to their profile in the NHS App so you can act on their behalf.

Follow the step-by-step instructions or watch the video below:

• Open the NHS App on your smartphone
• On the home page, scroll down until you see Manage services for another person
• Select Switch profiles
• Under Linked Profiles, you’ll see everyone you have access for
• Select the person whose care you would like to manage
• Next, you will see what services are available
• Switch to their profile by tapping the green button
• When you are ready to switch back to your profile, tap the yellow banner at the top

To enable us to register you for your online account please complete Teams online access request form and return it to the surgery. We will then let you know when your account has been set up.

If you would like access as a proxy user to manage a family or anyone elses account (you may need their permission) please complete Teams online access PROXY request and return this to the surgery. If you are using the NHS app then you will also need to be registered at the surgery with an active NHS app account.

If you are not a patient at our practice - proxy access can still be set up - please enquire with us about this service.