Access to Records
Online Access to Your Health Record
We encourage patients to use the NHS App to manage their healthcare safely and securely.
The NHS App allows you to:
- View your GP health record
- Order repeat prescriptions
- View test results
- Access a range of other NHS services
How to get started
You can download and set up the NHS App by following the instructions on the NHS website:
NHS App – download and setup instructions
The step-by-step guidance will help you register, verify your identity and start using the app.
If you experience any difficulties, please contact the practice and a member of our team will advise you where possible.
Proxy Access to Online Patient Records
Proxy access allows a patient to give permission for another person to access some or all of their online patient services on their behalf.
This can include:
- Booking and managing appointments
- Ordering repeat prescriptions
- Viewing parts of the patient’s medical record, where appropriate
A proxy may be:
- A parent or legal guardian
- A carer
- A close family member
- Another trusted person
The proxy must use their own NHS App or online-services login details and must never use the patient’s login details.
Consent and capacity
Proxy access will usually require the informed consent of the patient.
Patients aged 16 or over are generally presumed to have the capacity to make their own decisions unless there is evidence otherwise.
Where a patient is unable to give consent, proxy access may be considered by an appropriate clinician in the patient’s best interests. Safeguarding, confidentiality and the individual circumstances of the patient will always be considered.
Children and Young People
Children under 11
A parent or legal guardian may be given proxy access to manage online services on behalf of their child.
Young people aged 11–15
When a child reaches the age of 11, existing proxy access may be restricted to protect the young person’s confidentiality.
Continued or new proxy access will be considered individually and may require the young person’s consent and a clinical assessment of their understanding and capacity.
The information available to a parent or guardian may be limited. Sensitive information will not normally be visible unless a clinician considers access appropriate and in the young person’s best interests.
Young people aged 16 or over
From the age of 16, a young person is generally responsible for managing their own healthcare and online access.
Any existing parental proxy access will be reviewed and may end. It can only continue or be reinstated with the young person’s explicit consent or where there is another appropriate legal or best-interests basis.
Consent to Discuss Your Health With Someone Else
If you would like us to speak to another person about your health, care or treatment, you will need to give us permission.
This may include discussions about:
- Test results
- Medication
- Appointments
- Referrals
- Other relevant information from your medical record
You remain in control and can decide who we may speak to and what information we are permitted to share.
Your medical information will remain confidential. We will only share the information you have agreed to, unless there is a legal, safeguarding or other overriding reason to do so.
Please contact the practice if you would like to nominate someone. We may ask you and/or the nominated person to provide identification before recording the arrangement.
You may change or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting the practice.
Please note that consent for us to discuss your care with someone is different from granting them proxy access to your online patient record.
Lasting Power of Attorney – Health and Welfare
A Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare allows a person chosen by you to make decisions about your health and care if you are unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself.
Having a Health and Welfare LPA does not automatically allow the attorney to access your medical records or discuss your health while you still have the capacity to make your own decisions.
While you have capacity, we will continue to discuss your healthcare directly with you unless you have separately given us permission to share information with your attorney or another nominated person.
A Health and Welfare LPA generally takes effect when you lack the mental capacity to make the relevant decision. We will need to see evidence of the registered LPA and confirm that it applies before relying on the attorney’s authority.
Please contact the practice if you need further information about accessing or sharing health information.
