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Digital health services

By Does Your Duck Quack

NHS App and online health services across the UK

NHS App and online health services: compare what is available in each UK nation, set up safe proxy access and keep phone options open.

Checked: 7 October 2026 · Next review: 7 April 2027 · Applies to: UK, with nation notes
How this guide was prepared

Purpose: how to guidance · Level: detailed

Checked by: Does Your Duck Quack. Sources are linked below; seek professional advice for individual circumstances.

The short answer

What to do first

NHS App and online health services: compare what is available in each UK nation, set up safe proxy access and keep phone options open.

Start here: In England, the NHS App connects a person to services offered by their GP surgery, including repeat prescription requests, parts of the record and appointments where enabled. In Wales, the NHS Wales App offers a growing set of GP, prescription and record features, with some functions depending on practice settings. Scotland’s MyCare.scot is available nationally on the web and as a smartphone app; people aged 18 or over can view medicines, allergies, vaccination history, their CHI number and a national service finder. Booking appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions are not currently listed as app functions. Northern Ireland’s My Care portal provides secure access to selected secondary-care information.

Visual guides

See the decision at a glance

What you can do online, by nation
  1. EnglandNHS App features can include repeat prescriptions, records and appointments where the GP practice enables them.
  2. WalesNHS Wales App includes repeat prescription and appointment features; local practice setup affects access.
  3. ScotlandMyCare.scot provides some health information and service finding; features are developing.
  4. Northern IrelandMy Care shows selected secondary-care medicines, appointments and some results, not GP appointments.
Setting up access for someone you care for
  1. 1. Ask the personDiscuss what help they want and what health information they wish to share.
  2. 2. Contact the serviceAsk the GP or health service about formal family or proxy access.
  3. 3. Complete checksFollow identity, consent and safety steps required by that service.
  4. 4. Keep logins privateUse approved access; never share passwords, login codes or the patient’s account.

Scope of this guide

This guide helps you understand the options and questions to ask. It is not personal medical, legal or financial advice. Check the official sources for your nation and seek qualified help for high-stakes decisions.

Who this guide is for

People who want to use NHS online services, and family carers supporting access with the patient’s knowledge and consent.

Online health services can make it easier to view information, request repeat prescriptions or manage appointments, but what is available depends on where you live and which GP practice or health service you use. An app is optional; it does not replace phone, letter or in-person contact. The person receiving care should remain in control of what is shared. If someone helps, use the service’s formal family or proxy access rather than sharing passwords or logging in as the other person.

Practical steps

1. 1. Start with the service for your nation

In England, the NHS App connects a person to services offered by their GP surgery, including repeat prescription requests, parts of the record and appointments where enabled. In Wales, the NHS Wales App offers a growing set of GP, prescription and record features, with some functions depending on practice settings. Scotland’s MyCare.scot is available nationally on the web and as a smartphone app; people aged 18 or over can view medicines, allergies, vaccination history, their CHI number and a national service finder. Booking appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions are not currently listed as app functions. Northern Ireland’s My Care portal provides secure access to selected secondary-care information.

2. 2. Check what the particular practice has enabled

A feature shown in a national app may not be available for every practice, appointment type or record. Before relying on an online request, confirm that it has been received and ask when to use the usual phone route instead. A GP practice can explain how to view records, request repeat prescriptions, book or cancel appointments, and contact the team. Keep using the routine process until the digital option is confirmed for the person.

3. 3. Set up the person’s own secure access

Use the official NHS service for the person’s nation and follow its identity checks. In England this includes an NHS login, which may require identity verification before GP-linked services appear; the practice can explain alternatives if the person has no suitable photo identification or finds the process difficult. Use a private email address and contact number that the person can access, and make sure they understand how to sign out on a shared device.

4. 4. Arrange proper access for a helper

Ask the GP surgery or relevant health service about family and carer access. In England, a patient can choose a trusted person and agree which services or records they may use; the practice checks the request and consent where needed. Do not share the patient’s login, password or security codes. Formal access protects privacy, records who acted, can be limited and can usually be changed through the service.

5. 5. Keep offline routes available

Some people do not have internet access, a suitable device, confidence or a wish to use apps. They can still contact the GP or health service by telephone, letter or in person, depending on the service. Ask for reasonable adjustments, help with communication or an appointment route that works for the person. If a digital message is time-sensitive or unclear, call using a number from a trusted letter or official website.

6. 6. Pause before responding to a message

Scammers can imitate NHS wording and logos. Treat an unexpected message asking for bank details, passwords, one-time codes or payment with caution; do not follow a link just because it looks official. Open the app directly or contact the practice using a known number. Genuine NHS services may send reminders or sign-in notifications, so verify the request safely instead of assuming every message is false.

Questions and checks

Common questions

What can I do in the NHS App?

In England, features can include requesting repeat prescriptions, viewing parts of a GP record and using appointment services where the surgery offers them. The exact options depend on the practice and clinical system. You may need to verify your identity before linked services appear. If a feature is missing or you need help, contact the GP surgery and continue using the usual route until the request is confirmed.

Can I use the NHS App for a relative?

Ask the person’s GP surgery about formal family and carer access. The patient can choose a trusted person and the level of access they want; the practice may need to check consent and safety. Do not use the patient’s login or ask them to share security codes. Formal proxy access protects the person’s privacy and makes it clearer which actions were taken on their behalf.

What is available in Scotland through MyCare.scot?

MyCare.scot is available across Scotland online and as an app. Its national service provides access to some health and care information and helps people find services. The feature set is being developed, and it should not be assumed to offer every appointment or prescription function. Use the NHS service or GP practice’s normal contact route if you need something that is not shown.

Does the NHS Wales App show every appointment or prescription?

No. It offers functions such as appointment management, repeat prescription requests and record information, but the features available can depend on the GP practice and local setup. Some prescription functions are still being rolled out. If a request is urgent or an appointment does not appear, contact the practice directly and ask what route to use.

What does My Care show in Northern Ireland?

My Care gives secure access to selected information from secondary care, including medication, appointments and some test results. It is not a complete record: GP appointments and tests arranged by a GP are not displayed in the portal. It is optional, and people can continue using letters and telephone calls. Ask the relevant HSC service if you need a record or result that is not available online.

How can I tell whether an NHS text is genuine?

Do not use a link in an unexpected message to enter a password, banking information or a one-time code. Open the official app yourself or contact the GP practice using a number from a trusted source. NHS services may send routine reminders, but you should pause if a message creates pressure, asks for payment or requests confidential credentials. Report suspicious messages through the appropriate fraud route.

Differences across the UK

England uses the NHS App; available features can depend on the GP practice and its systems. Wales has the NHS Wales App, whose features include GP appointments, repeat prescriptions and record information where the practice has enabled them. Scotland’s MyCare.scot web service launched for an initial cohort in December 2025, rolled out nationally in April 2026 and gained a smartphone app in June 2026. Its current app features include medicines and allergies, vaccination history, the person’s CHI number, personal details and a service finder; the Scottish Government says appointment and digital-letter functions are planned as the service develops, and repeat prescription ordering is not a listed current function. The national service is for people aged 18 and over. Northern Ireland’s My Care portal offers secure access to selected secondary-care records, including medication, appointments and some test results; it does not show primary-care information such as GP appointments or GP-arranged test results. Traditional routes remain available in each nation. Proxy access is not identical across the services, so ask the patient’s GP or health service how to arrange it locally.

Primary sources

The publisher checked this guide against the 12 official sources below. This is an editorial source check, not approval by a clinician, lawyer or benefits adviser.

Editorial note: By Does Your Duck Quack.