Are you using the NHS App?
The NHS have launched a new campaign to encourage use of the NHS App, by increasing awareness of the App and its functionality and driving knowledge of the key benefits to using it to access NHS health and care services at your fingertips.
The NHS App was launched in December 2018, and provides a digital route to access a wide, and increasing, range of NHS health and care services. It forms a key role in supporting the NHS Long Term Plan commitment that every patient should have access to digital-first primary care by 2023/24.
Millions of people are already using it to manage their health the easy way, from ordering a prescription to checking their records.
The NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and information on your smartphone or tablet. Millions of people are already using the NHS App to manage their health the easy way from the comfort of their homes.
If you are over the age of 16 the NHS App enables you to view your GP health record to help you better understand and manage your condition, without having to phone your GP surgery. With the App you can access your consultation notes, letters and test results.
The NHS App also enables you to manage repeat prescriptions and easily change your nominated pharmacy, so you can send orders when it’s convenient for you. Each prescription ordered electronically saves GP practices three minutes of time and a patient 18 minutes, making it more convenient for people and freeing up frontline staff to do other important duties.
To find out how to order repeat prescriptions and how to securely view your health records please click on the links below.
The App makes it easy to access your appointment information and manage your hospital appointments. You can also find out your NHS number and access NHS 111 online to get instant advice or medical help near you.
New and innovative features will continue to be developed for the NHS App to help patients access convenient and high-quality care when and where they need it.
Start using the App today. For more information, including how to download the NHS App, please click HERE. Your NHS is at your fingertips.
For a comprehensive guide to setting up and using the NHS App please click here
Patients Registering for the NHS App
Download and install the NHS App on the Google Play (Android device) or App Store (Apple device)* Sign in with the NHS login.
How it works
1. Set up an NHS login account by entering their email address and creating a password.
2. Patients will receive an email asking them to log in.
3. Enter the patients mobile phone number and enter the security code received by SMS.
4. Patients will need to prove their identity by either:
- Sending a photo of their ID (UK/EU driving license or passport or European national ID card) and recording a video of their face while they say 4 random numbers shown to them
- Entering registration details they have obtained from their GP practice, e.g. linkage key, practice ID/ODS code and an account ID
5. Enter the patients NHS number. If not available, the patient can enter their name, date of birth and postcode.
6. Patient will receive an email to confirm they are able to use their NHS login to sign in.
7. When logging in, they will be asked for their email and password, and to enter a security code sent to their mobile phone number.
Please be aware that it can take up to 2 hours for verification of ID
Patients will need to click ‘connect to their GP surgery’ and accept conditions of use for access to the full range of features. If the GP surgery is not connected, you can only use the app to check your symptoms and find out what to do if you need help urgently.
Request Repeat Prescriptions
How it works
1. Click Homepage or ‘Services’ icon
2. Select ‘Request repeat prescriptions’.
3. Patients can view or nominate their chosen pharmacy.
4. After selecting the medicine(s) you want to order, the request is sent directly to the GP surgery for sign-off and issued to the nominated pharmacy.
Once an order is placed, you can view their repeat prescriptions status and history, including when an item was last ordered.
Click HERE for a step-by-step guide or watch the short video below showing how to request prescriptions via the NHS App.
Book / Check / Cancel a GP Appointment
Patients may be able to book and manage GP appointments via the NHS App if their GP surgery has made these available online.
How it works
Patients can access this feature by selecting ‘Services’ icon and then clicking ‘Check for available GP appointments’
Get Medical Help Via 111 Online
Patients can use this digital triage service to answer questions and get instant advice or urgent medical help near them. It is available 24/7 and is for those aged 5+.
How it works
- Patients can access online consultations in the NHS App by clicking on the ‘Services’ icon.
- For medical advice, they can click on ‘Contact your GP about a health problem’. They will fill in the online form with information about their symptoms, conditions or treatment (or on someone else’s behalf).
- They can also click on ‘Contact your GP surgery for a document or update’ to submit an admin query i.e. sick notes, GP Letters
- Once submitted, a GP or another professional reviews the form, deciding on the right care for the patient, e.g. email/message with advice or information, telephone or video consultation, or face-to-face appointment.
Patients are directed to seek acute care if they hit a red flag
Manage Services For Another Person (Proxy Access)
Patients can request to act as a proxy for children, relatives or someone they care for. This allows them to access health services on behalf of someone else.
How it works
- Patient to contact their GP surgery and ask them to register them for proxy access.
- Access the linked profile by clicking on ‘Switch profiles’ on the homepage. A yellow banner at the top will show they are acting on behalf of someone else once they switch profiles. They can return to their own profile by selecting ‘Switch back to your profile’.
Patients can use linked profiles if:
- they and the other person are both registered at the same GP surgery
- their GP surgery has registered them for proxy access
- their GP surgery uses EMIS (Patient Access) or TPP SystmOne (Airmid or SystmOnline)
Depending on the level of proxy access the surgery agrees to provide, they may be able to switch profiles to book an appointment, order a
repeat prescription, or view some or all of their GP health record.
Carers can order medication by proxy which reduces the time spent processing requests from Medication Administration Record charts.
