The NHS App

• order repeat prescriptions
• book appointments
• get health advice
• view your health record
• register your organ donation decision

Downloading the NHS App on a mobile device:

1. Open the App Store or Play Store.
2. Search for ‘NHS App’ and select install.
3. After installing, select the app to open it.

When you click the button, you will be asked to:

• provide an email address (with more than 6 characters)
• choose a password
• accept the NHS login terms and conditions

You will then receive an email containing a security code. You must enter this security code to confirm your email address. You will then be asked to give your mobile phone or landline number. Another security code will be sent to this phone number. You must enter this security code to confirm your phone number. 

This means you have an NHS login with the lowest level of identity verification. 

You must then verify your identity to a medium level or a high level. The level of verification will depend on the website or app you want to use and the type of information you want to access.

Medium level verification                               

You will be asked to enter your NHS number, date of birth and the postcode of your home address as registered with your GP practice. If you do not know your NHS number, you can enter your name instead. This information is then checked to correspond to an NHS record on the Personal Demographics Service (PDS).

Medium level verification will allow you to do things like contact your GP or receive notifications. It does not provide access to health records or personal information.

High level verification

You must prove who you are in order to gain access to health records or personal information. To do this, you have 4 options.

Use a fast-track ID check

You can choose to transfer a previous ID check for GP online services to NHS login if you use the mobile number on your NHS record. This means you do not need to have your ID re-checked and the process is much quicker.
 

Submit photo ID and a face scan

You will be asked to submit a photo of your ID and then take an automated scan of your face. Instructions will be given on how to do this using the camera on your device. The scan will then be used to match your face with your photo ID.

The accepted types of photo ID are:

• passport
• UK driving licence, either full or provisional
• a full European driving licence
• European national identity card
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), UK Residence Card, or EEA Biometric Residence Card (BRC)

During the scan the screen will flash and change colour. If flashing lights or colours make you feel unwell, you can record a video instead.

Submit photo ID and a video

You will be asked to submit a photo of your I.D. and record a short video of your face.

The accepted types of photo ID are:

• passport
• UK driving licence, either full or provisional
• a full European driving licence
• European national identity card
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), UK Residence Card, or EEA Biometric Residence Card (BRC)

Before you record your video, you will be shown 4 randomly generated numbers. you will be asked to tell us what the 4 numbers are.

To do this you can:

• say the numbers
• sign the numbers using British Sign Language
• write the numbers down and show them

Once submitted, your identity will be carefully checked by our ID checking team and should be verified within two hours. You will then be emailed to let you know if the ID check has been successful.

Use registration details from their GP practice’s online services

When you sign up to use your GP practice’s online services, you will be given three registration details.

The registration details are:

• a Linkage Key (which could be called a Passphrase)
• an ODS Code (which could be called an Organisation Code or Practice I.D.)
• an Account I.D.

If you use this information to prove who you are, it is automatically checked with the GP practice’s system, along with your name and date of birth. During this process, your NHS number and health information is matched to their NHS login.

To use this option, you should select ‘No, I do not have photo ID', when asked if you have photo ID.

If you have not already been verified to medium level, you will also be asked to enter your date of birth, the postcode of your home address as registered with your GP practice, and NHS number. If you do not know your NHS number you can enter your name.

Once you have completed these steps, you will be able to use your NHS login to access your chosen websites and apps, wherever you see the NHS login button.

You can continue using your email address, password and the security code sent to your phone number for authentication. You can also choose to be 'remembered' on your device, the first time you log into a website or app after setting up your NHS login. This means you can log in using your username and password, without the need to enter a security code.

Some websites and apps will allow users to authenticate with biometric data, using fingerprint or facial recognition.