In summary the NHS App allows you to: –
- Ask your GP for advice through eConsult.
- Appointments – view existing and book future appointments.
- Prescriptions – check your history and order a repeat prescription (see your nominated pharmacy).
- View your GP medical record.
- View messages from health services and the NHS App.
- Manage decisions around organ, tissue and blood donations.
- Check your symptoms.
- Coronavirus advice.
- Find NHS information on hundreds of conditions.
- Use NHS 111 for urgent help online.
The first step is to download the NHS App, available now on iOS (from the App Store) and Android (from Google Play).
To use it you must be aged 13 and over and registered with a GP surgery in England. If you are aged 13 to 15 you will need to contact your GP surgery first and request access to online services.
- The NHS App has been available for more than one year via mobile devices but very recently became available through a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Google Chrome. This means you can use the app’s features on a desktop computer or laptop, but you should first register on a mobile device. The NHS App is supported anywhere you travel including outside the country, provided you have a UK mobile phone number.
- If your mobile supports fingerprint detection or facial recognition, you can use it to log in to the NHS App each time, instead of using a password and security code.
The sign-on process is a little more complex than if you already have online services. You may find it useful to look at a helpful video on YouTube: –
Having downloaded the App, you will be asked to: –
- Give an email address.
- Choose a password.
- Accept the NHS Login Terms and Conditions.
You will receive an email containing a link which you have to click-on to confirm the email address used. You will then receive confirmation you have an NHS Login.
Return to the App and enter the NHS Login email address and password. You will now be asked to provide a mobile phone numberand as a result you will get sent a text message with a six-digit security code. You will be prompted to enter this code and press continue.
Next step is to confirm identity via photo ID and a short video.
You will have to take a photo on your mobile of one of the following accepted types of ID: –
- Passport
- UK driving licence (full or provisional)
- Full European driving licence
- European national identity card
In addition, you will need to do the following. The app will lead you through each of these steps.
- You will have to take a short video of your face as you say 4 randomly generated numbers.
- You will have to enter your date of birth
- You will have to provide your NHS number if you know it or if not, your name and postcode registered with your surgery.
If you have completed all these steps properly then you can expect to hear confirmation within a couple of hours to say the identity check is all OK.
Once these steps are completed you will be able to use your NHS login to access the app, using your email address and password. You also have the option to log in using biometric data, using fingerprint or facial recognition.
Now you have successfully logged in, if required, you can download a desktop version via Internet Explorer or Google Chrome.
If you have read this far and still require help, go to Computers and a Cuppa, at the Wyllyotts Centre on the first and third Monday of the month, from 10:30 to 12:30.