Layout
If you change GP practice, your NHS app layout may look different.
GP practices use different IT suppliers such as:
- Emis
- TPP
- Vision
You may no longer have access to some of the services that were offered from your previous practice. Each practice is different and do not all use the same health record service providers I.e. you may no longer have access to:
- PKB (Patient knows Best)
- Accurx
- Patches
The NHS app mirrors the GP practices computer system and will allow patients to use GP services that the surgery makes available to their patients when using online services. The layout and functionalities of your NHS account will depend on what your new GP practice offers their patients.
Messages
GP messaging services may differ to the way you could communicate with your previous GP practice. Some practices do not have the messaging service enabled but may offer alternative methods to communicate to the GP surgery.
It may be that you have access to contact your GP about a health problem, using a service provided by Patches or another health record service provider.
Please note that:
- you will not see an inbox from your current practice until they have sent you a message
- any messages sent from a previous GP surgery will still be visible within your NHS account as currently there is no way to delete messages.
Appointments
Your ability to book appointments via the NHS App may change.
- This is because your new practice’s policy on appointment booking might be different to that of your previous practice. In this instance, we recommend contacting your new practice to ask their practice policy on appointment booking in regard to the NHS App.
Your appointment history in the NHS App may no longer show.
- Your practice are the administrators of your online account and only they have the authority and the ability to amend what you can view via the NHS App from their computer system. Therefore, in this instance, please contact your new practice for further information on this matter.
Your ability to cancel appointments via the NHS App may change.
- Whether or not you can cancel an appointment via the NHS App will be dependent on whether your GPs clinical system has been configured to allow this permission.
- Therefore, please contact your new GP to enquire about their appointment cancellation policy.
Proxy
Any linked accounts you had on the NHS App at your previous practice will no longer show on the NHS App.
- You will need to contact your new practice and request for them to reinstate your linked account access.
- Please note, depending on your new practice’s system supplier, it may no longer be possible to grant proxy access.
- Also, please note that the NHS App does not support linking profiles which belong to different GP practices.
- Therefore, if you would like to have a linked account on your NHS App, please contact your practice to enquire about their ability and policy on granting patients linked account access.
Prescriptions
When you change your GP practice, the way you manage your prescriptions through the NHS App may also change depending on your new practice’s polices and systems. Here is what you need to know:
Dispensing GP practice
If you move to a GP practice that is a dispensing practice, you will not be able to nominate a preferred pharmacy. In this case, you could contact your GP practice to change your current nomination.
Prescriptions not available to order
You may not be able to order some prescription items if:
- Only repeat prescriptions are available to order through the NHS App.
- Your doctor needs to review your medication. You can contact your GP surgery to book a medicine review or to find out when you can next order your prescription.
- It’s too early to order your medicine.
- You have a repeat dispensing prescription which means your practice will issue your prescription at regular intervals without you manually having to order it.
- It is a one-off prescription which is sometimes called an Acute prescription. To check if you have an acute or repeat prescription in your NHS account:
To check if you have an acute or repeat prescription using the NHS App:
- Go to the homepage or to Your health.
- Select GP health record.
- Then select Medicines.
We suggest that you contact your practice for further information.
Prescriptions Notifications
The method of notification for when your prescription is ready may vary with your new GP practice. You could be contacted via:
- NHS App notifications
- SMS messages
Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date and check your preferred method of communication with your new GP practice to stay informed about your prescription status.
Disclaimer:
Please note: The NHS App works like a mirror and reflects your online account which is saved locally on your GP's computer system.
The NHS App team cannot view or amend your prescription.
The NHS App will reflect your repeat prescription/s which are saved locally on your practices computer system.
Your practice are the administrators of your online account and only they have the authority and the ability to view and amend your prescription.
Your practice can contact their system supplier on your behalf, for guidance on issuing your prescription through 3rd party apps.
Health Records
Your access to health records on the NHS App may differ from one practice to another due to their clinical system supplier and practice configurations.
Below is a breakdown of what you can see based on different suppliers:
EMIS with Patient Access
If your GP practice uses EMIS with Patient Access, you can view:
- Allergies and adverse reactions
- Immunisations
- Medicines
- Health conditions
- Consultations and events
- Test results
- Documents
TPP with SystemOne
If your GP Practice uses TPP with SystemOne, you can view:
- Allergies and adverse reactions
- Medicines
- Consultations and events
- Test results (past 6 months)
- Documents
Vision with Patient Services
If your GP Practice uses Vision with Patient Services, you can view:
- Allergies and adverse reactions
- Immunisations
- Examinations
- Test results
- Diagnosis
- Procedures
- Health conditions
- Medicines
Incomplete Medical Record Transfer
When you register at a new practice, they might not have received your complete medical record from your previous practice. This could be due to the GP2GP electronic medical records transfer not being actioned.
For more information, please visit:
https://digital.nhs.uk/services/gp2gp
Obtaining Past Health Records
If your new practice is having difficulty obtaining your past health records, they can request help from Primary Care Support England (PCSE). PCSE manages the internal transfer of patient paper medical records from one practice to another and can obtain records from your past GP practices.
For more information, please visit:
https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/services/medical-records
Access Permissions
Practice Policies
Your access to health records may change when you move from one practice to another.
Your new practice may have different policies regarding viewing your full medical history.
You may need to submit a written request or fill out a form to access certain parts of your health record.
Your GP practice might need time to review your records with clinical staff to determine what can be released to you.
Disclaimer:
The NHS App cannot view or amend your health record or account permissions.
The NHS App reflects your online account and records which are saved locally on your practice's computer system.
Your practice are the administrators of your online account and only they have the authority and the ability to amend your records.
Your practice can resolve your query by raising case on your behalf with their computer system supplier's help desk.
The system supplier will provide for guidance on issuing access to your record.