If your staff, website and surgery posters advise patients to complete a form or to speak to staff about online services, this article is for you. You could be saving staff resource and providing a better experience to your patients by promoting the NHS App by default.

Patients aged 16+, with an email address, mobile number (no smartphone needed) and photo ID can self-register for:

1. Medication requests
2. Appointment booking
3. Summary record access
4. Prospective full record access

If you have a page dedicated to GP Online Services, we recommend using the content below. If you do not have a page for this; create one.

Throughout the rest of your site, do not provide details of how to get online. Provide basic statements and link to your GP Online Services page.
e.g. On an Appointments page, instead of "You can request medication online, fill in a form and bring this to reception." instead "You can request medication online." with "request medication online" linking to your GP Online Services or better yet, include relevant NHS App promotional images linking to your GP Online Services page.

Things you will need to change in the template

1. In the 'Other ways to access GP Online Services' section:
   1. EMIS surgeries should remove 'Airmid app' and 'SystmOnline'
   2. TPP surgeries should remove 'Patient Access'.
2. The 'Signing up through the surgery' section requires customisation based on your secondary (manual) process. This might be a form patients complete or they call/attend the surgery to obtain a linkage key for the NHS App or credentials to SystmOnline/Patient Access.

Below is a template for your GP Online Services page. You will not be able to copy/paste all information and may need assistance from your web developer or to link them to this page.

GP Online Services

GP Online Services allow patients to book appointments, request medication and view medical records.

Registering for GP Online Services

If you are 16+ with suitable photo ID, you can self-register by downloading the NHS App or visiting www.nhs.uk/nhsapp. If you are unable to get through the self-registration, please see the 'Having difficulties?' section below.

If you require online services for someone who lacks capacity to make their own care decision (e.g. young children or an ill relative), please first self-register for the NHS App for yourself and then contact the surgery regarding adding additional patients to your account. Older children may need their own account created by the surgery if they are deemed competent to make decisions about their own care.

No smartphone/tablet? Visit the NHS App link below for information on accessing NHS App services from the browser on your desktop or laptop computer.

Further information about the NHS App

General information on GP Online Services

Other ways to access GP Online Services

There are many ways to access GP online services, and some may offer options/functions that you may find preferable to the standard NHS services.

• Airmid app: Some patients may be advised to use Airmid. If you have SystmOnline login details -or- have an 'NHS Login' (created when you access various NHS online services) you can use these on the Airmid app.
• SystmOnline website: If you've been provided with login details from the surgery access the SystmOnline website.
• Patient Access: If you have been provided with login details from the surgery access the Patient Access website.
• There are many other providers that are compatible with NHS services, though not all will be compatible with our surgery.

Having difficulties?

I don't have a smartphone

NHS App services are available at www.nhs.uk/nhsapp. You will require a mobile number, but do not require a smartphone. If you do not have a mobile phone number and would like access to GP Online Services, please see 'Signing up through the surgery' below.

I am being asked for a "Linkage Key"

Please get in touch with the surgery to arrange this. We will need to verify your identity before providing this. You may be asked to attend the surgery with identification documents or we may be able to verify your identity remotely by asking questions to confirm your identity based on information in your medical records.

Signing up through the surgery

If you do not meet the requirements for registering for the NHS App, such as no mobile number or photo ID, please

[insert surgery process here ensure this does not suggest the surgery must see photo ID, the surgery must have a suitable approaching to verifying ID for all patients].