NHS number. Frequently Asked Questions For Patients

Transcription

1 NHS number Frequently Asked Questions For Patients This document contains frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the NHS number for residents in England. For queries about residents of Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland or the Isle of Man please contact your local NHS services via your GP practice. NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 1 of 12

2 Contents 1 The NHS number What is an NHS number? Who has an NHS number? How do I find my NHS number? Is my NHS number the same as my National Insurance number? Why is the NHS number important? I have changed my name or address. Does this affect my NHS number? Do I need to know my NHS number if I use a GP practice I am not registered with? Do I need to know my NHS number to receive NHS care? Do I need to know my NHS number to register with a new GP practice? Do I need an NHS number to register with an NHS dental practice? I have a hospital number; do I also need an NHS number? How does my NHS number work? What can the NHS use my NHS number for? I seem to have more than one NHS number, which one is correct? How will my NHS number improve my care? Will I still be able to use NHS healthcare services without giving my NHS number? Will using my NHS number change the way my health information is shared? Do I need an NHS number to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)? NHS medical cards Should everyone registered with the NHS have an NHS medical card? Are there any other documents which include my NHS number? I have an NHS medical card with an NHS number on it which includes alphabetic characters, is this still in use? I have lost my NHS medical card, or the details on it are out of date how can I get a new one? Foreign nationals living in the England I live in England, but I was originally from another country. How do I apply for an NHS number? Free NHS treatment NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 2 of 12

3 4.1 If I have an NHS number can I have free NHS treatment? Babies and the NHS number How do babies get their NHS number? Changes of Identity and your NHS number What happens if I have changed my identity and my new identity needs to be kept separately from my old identity? NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 3 of 12

4 1 The NHS number Please note that these FAQs relate to NHS numbers for ENGLAND only. Residents of Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland or the Isle of Man should contact their local NHS services via their GP practice. 1.1 What is an NHS number? An NHS number is a unique 10-digit number, given to everyone registered with the NHS in England, Wales or the Isle of Man. Your NHS number helps healthcare staff find your care records and provide you with better, safer care. The NHS number is normally shown in a format and would look something like this. The 10-digit NHS number was introduced in 1996 and replaced different versions that included both letters and numbers. Using your NHS number is a better way of finding your information than using just your name and date of birth, particularly with NHS computer systems. It will help to avoid mistaking you for another patient which can be caused by errors such as misspelt names or by patients having the same or similar names and the same date of birth. 1.2 Who has an NHS number? The following people have an NHS number: anyone who is, or has ever been, registered with a GP practice in England, Wales or the Isle of Man anyone born in England, Wales or the Isle of Man since October Additionally, anyone who has received NHS treatment in England, Wales or the Isle of Man is likely to have an NHS number. There are very few people without an NHS number. This is normally because they have had no previous contact with the NHS. If an NHS organisation cannot find your NHS number it is probably because you have not been properly identified, not because you do not have an NHS number. If you registered with a GP practice in England, Wales or the Isle of Man before 1996, you will have been given an old style NHS number made of both letters and numbers. This has been replaced by a new style NHS number made up of 10 numbers. You should only use your 10-digit NHS number from now on. NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 4 of 12

5 1.3 How do I find my NHS number? You should be able to find your NHS number from the following sources: on your NHS medical card if you have one please note that not all NHS areas issue medical cards on a letter or other document from the NHS, including a letter from your GP practice or a hospital on a printed prescription. If you are registered with a GP practice they should be able to give you a note of your NHS number on your request. If you are not currently registered with a GP practice, but then register with one, they will be able to give you a note of your NHS number once the registration process is complete. If you have never been registered with a GP practice in England, Wales or the Isle of Man, have never received any NHS treatment, and were not born in England, Wales or the Isle of Man you will not have an NHS number. When you register with a GP practice they will check whether you have an NHS number and if not you will be given one. Note: You do not need an NHS number to register with a GP practice. To find GP practices in your area use NHS Choices website at: A list of GP practices is displayed. Select the nearest GP practice which provides the services you need and is currently accepting new patients. If you are having problems registering with a GP practice, or if you do not wish to register with an NHS GP practice but wish to know your NHS number, you can contact your Local Area Team. Depending on your situation, the Local Area Team may put you in touch with the patient registration service in your area. To find contact details of your Local Area Team use NHS Choices website at: Once you know your NHS number you should keep it somewhere easily accessible. 1.4 Is my NHS number the same as my National Insurance number? No. Your National Insurance (NI) number is used for tax, benefits and pensions. If you have any questions about your NI number go to: or contact your local office of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 5 of 12

6 1.5 Why is the NHS number important? Your NHS number is unique to you; it will identify your NHS records correctly and is an important contributor towards providing you with better, safer care. Your NHS number helps healthcare providers to match your records to you and be more accurate when passing information to other healthcare providers. This will help avoid you being mistaken for another patient or your information being recorded on another patient s file. If you can show a document that contains your NHS number you can help healthcare staff find your records more easily and share them safely with others who are caring for you (see question 1.3 above for documents containing NHS number). You could also check information which the NHS sends you to make sure they have the correct NHS number. If you notice the NHS number is wrong you should contact whoever has quoted an incorrect NHS number and give them your correct NHS number. 1.6 I have changed my name or address. Does this affect my NHS number? No. Changing your name or address does not affect your NHS number, which stays with you throughout your life. To ensure changes to your name, address or contact telephone number are updated on your medical records, contact your GP practice. They may ask to see some identification or proof of the name or address change. Your GP practice will make sure your records are updated. 1.7 Do I need to know my NHS number if I use a GP practice I am not registered with? No. If you do not have your NHS number, GP practice staff can find it in another way, but having it with you makes things easier. 1.8 Do I need to know my NHS number to receive NHS care? No. You do not need to know your NHS number but having it may help staff to find your health records. This will help avoid you being mistaken for another patient or your information being recorded on another patient s file. You should keep your NHS number somewhere safe where you can easily find it. 1.9 Do I need to know my NHS number to register with a new GP practice? No. A declaration of your NHS number is not required in order to register with a GP practice, although if you have a note of it it is useful as it helps to uniquely NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 6 of 12

7 identify your records. Note that you may be asked to complete a GMS1 form and you may be asked for proof of identity Do I need an NHS number to register with an NHS dental practice? No. A declaration of your NHS number is not required in order to register with an NHS dental practice I have a hospital number; do I also need an NHS number? Yes. Hospital numbers and other local ways of identifying you are only used by the specific hospital or healthcare provider. An NHS number is used across all NHS organisations and is the only national unique single data item to identify and connect your health records. Your NHS number stays the same wherever you are receiving care. You may receive care from many different NHS organisations. NHS numbers are important because they make sure there is safe and secure communication across different organisations and help avoid one person s information being recorded on another patient s file. Here is an example of a mix-up. A patient referral letter, with no NHS number printed on it, was given to a clerk to make an appointment. The patient was mixed up with another patient with a similar name and date of birth and the appointment was booked for the wrong patient. The appointment letter went to the wrong patient and the correct patient missed their appointment. This mix-up then had to be explained to both patients and a new appointment had to be made How does my NHS number work? When you visit a GP practice or go to an NHS hospital or any other NHS treatment centre, they can get your NHS number in a number of ways. They can get it from: your NHS medical card (if you have one) please note that many NHS areas no longer issue medical cards. a printed prescription a recent letter or appointment card the local computer system the National NHS demographic database. If they do not already have your NHS number on their records they will add it to their records. Only authorised healthcare staff can read your personal details to find your NHS number. They follow strict privacy and security procedures when they handle NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 7 of 12

8 your health information. If your health information needs to be passed to another authorised healthcare provider (for example if you are being referred elsewhere or leaving hospital), they will include your NHS number to help other organisations to find your records more easily. Using your unique NHS number is better than using only your name and date of birth to find information, particularly with NHS computer systems, and will help to avoid mistakes which can be caused by misspelt names or by people having the same or similar names, or having the same date of birth. Healthcare providers may also use other local numbers e.g. a Hospital number. In an emergency, if a provider cannot identify you they will not have your NHS number. As soon as healthcare staff can identify you they will find your NHS number and add it to your records What can the NHS use my NHS number for? Healthcare providers and other authorised healthcare professionals will use your NHS number for passing on and managing health information to provide you with better, safer and more efficient healthcare. NHS numbers cannot be used for any other reason, such as insurance or employment purposes, or to confer entitlement to NHS services. Any organisation which uses NHS numbers has to do so in line with existing privacy rules and the Data Protection Act I seem to have more than one NHS number, which one is correct? Your NHS number is a unique 10-digit number. If one of your NHS numbers has both letters and numbers it is an old NHS number (pre-1996) which you can no longer use (see question 2.3 below). If you have more than one 10-digit number then you should contact your GP practice and ask them to check your records to find out which one is the right number. If you are not currently registered, contact your local NHS Area Team as explained in question 1.3 above. It is also recommended that you tell all organisations involved in your healthcare that you have two different numbers so that they can find out which is the right NHS number and change their records How will my NHS number improve my care? NHS numbers will improve safety, security and efficiency by making sure your information is linked to the right record. Some of the ways your NHS number helps to improve your care are: Discharge summaries - when you leave hospital and information about your on-going care is sent to your GP (or other healthcare provider), they will be able to match your information to your patient record more easily. NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 8 of 12

9 Pathology tests - when your test results are sent to your GP (or other healthcare provider), they will be able to match the test results to your patient record more easily. Prescriptions pharmacists can be confident when receiving electronic prescriptions or reviewing paper prescriptions that they are matched to you, so that you get the right medication. Referrals - when patient records and case histories are sent between healthcare providers, for example when your GP refers you elsewhere for care, the specialist can check they have your correct information more easily Will I still be able to use NHS healthcare services without giving my NHS number? Yes. A declaration of your NHS number is not required in order to register with a GP practice or to receive NHS healthcare services but having a note of your NHS number will assist staff to find your records more easily and more accurately Will using my NHS number change the way my health information is shared? No. Having your NHS number on your medical records will not change how and when healthcare providers share information about you. An NHS number is simply a much more reliable way of matching your records to you Do I need an NHS number to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)? No. You do not need an NHS number to apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can use your National Insurance (NI) Number for your EHIC application although the websites related to the EHIC may optionally ask for your NHS number. You can find out more about the EHIC and apply for one at: If you are applying for a dependant who does not have an NI Number they will be added to your EHIC card as a dependant, using your NI Number. 2 NHS medical cards 2.1 Should everyone registered with the NHS have an NHS medical card? No. Many NHS areas no longer issue medical cards and a medical card is not required to receive NHS treatment or to register with an NHS GP practice or an NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 9 of 12

10 NHS dental practice. Not having an NHS medical card does not affect your health care or your eligibility for receiving free NHS healthcare. When you register with a GP practice they may give you a document to confirm your registration which will include your NHS number. 2.2 Are there any other documents which include my NHS number? Yes. See question 1.3 above. 2.3 I have an NHS medical card with an NHS number on it which includes alphabetic characters, is this still in use? No. If you have a medical card that you received before 1996, it will have an old style NHS number which is no longer used. Everyone with an old style NHS number was allocated a new style NHS number in The old format NHS number included alphabetic characters as well as numeric characters. Please use your 10 numeric digit NHS number and never quote the old number. To find your new style NHS number see question 1.3 above. 2.4 I have lost my NHS medical card, or the details on it are out of date how can I get a new one? Many people in England do not have an NHS Medical card. See question 2.1 above. The important piece of information on an NHS medical card is your NHS number and you can find this in any of the ways listed in question 1.3 above. 3 Foreign nationals living in the England 3.1 I live in England, but I was originally from another country. How do I apply for an NHS number? You cannot apply for an NHS number. If you live in England you can register with a local GP practice. If you do not already have an NHS number an NHS number will be allocated to you as part of the registration process. See question 1.3 for information regarding finding a GP practice in your area. 4 Free NHS treatment 4.1 If I have an NHS number can I have free NHS treatment? Having an NHS number does not imply entitlement to the use of all NHS services in England. Your NHS number helps healthcare staff find your care records and means they can provide you with better, safer care. NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 10 of 12

11 For further details on whether you can get free hospital treatment see: Some people can get help with health costs (for example travel or prescription costs). For more information see: 5 Babies and the NHS number 5.1 How do babies get their NHS number? Babies born in a hospital in England, Wales or the Isle of Man are given an NHS number soon after they are born, normally while they are still in hospital. The maternity unit will tell the mother her baby s NHS number, usually by printing out a label containing the baby s details and NHS number. This label may be attached: to a leaflet called NHS number From Birth for Life to a letter or form, or inside the baby s Red Book. If your baby was born at home, the midwife will register the birth and the NHS number will be available, usually within a few days. It is important that babies are given their NHS number at birth as routine tests and medical treatments are carried out in the first six weeks and need to be associated with the baby s record. Names, addresses and other details for you and your baby may change over time, but knowing and using your baby s NHS number from birth means the healthcare staff supporting you and providing your baby s care can correctly identify your baby s test results and records from the start. You can then make sure your baby s NHS number is used on all your baby s documents, including birth notifications, discharge letters and labels. This will help your health care providers correctly identify your baby, no matter which organisation or staff are supporting and providing your baby s care. If the hospital or midwife has not given you your baby s NHS number you should ask them for it. 6 Changes of Identity and your NHS number 6.1 What happens if I have changed my identity and my new identity needs to be kept separately from my old identity? Special procedures are used for identity change cases, which are under the control of the National Back Office. For more information please visit: NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 11 of 12

12 If after reading these FAQs you have any comments or you need more information, please visit: Or the NHS number team at Ref: 4659 (May 14) NHS number FAQs for patients V4.15 (23/05/2014) Page 12 of 12