What your NHS number is
Your NHS number is a unique 10-digit identifier assigned to every patient registered with the NHS in England, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Scotland has a different patient identifier system — the CHI number — which is separate.
Your NHS number is assigned when you first register with an NHS service. It stays with you for life. Moving to a different part of England does not change it, and changing your name does not change it either. Your NHS number is permanent and unique to you.
It links your health records across different NHS services, so your GP, hospital consultants, and pharmacists can all access the same underlying patient information.
The quickest way to find your NHS number is the NHS App
If you have the NHS App on your phone (available on iOS and Android), your NHS number is displayed in your profile. You do not need to search through paperwork.
The NHS App also gives you access to your health records, repeat prescription requests, and appointment bookings. If you do not have it set up, it is worth doing: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/
Where to find your NHS number
Your NHS number appears on several documents and services you may already have:
On your phone:
- The NHS App — displayed in your profile once set up. This is the fastest option for most people.
On paper:
- A prescription bag or repeat prescription slip from your GP or pharmacy
- Any appointment letter from an NHS service (hospital, GP, outpatient clinic)
- Your NHS Summary Care Record, accessible via the NHS App
- A letter from your GP practice
By phone:
- Call your GP practice — they can tell you your NHS number immediately
- Call NHS England on 0300 311 22 33 (verify this number is still current at NHS.UK)
If you have never used the NHS in England, you may not yet have an NHS number. See the section below.
You do not need your NHS number to access NHS care
Not having your NHS number with you does not prevent you from being seen, treated, or picking up a prescription. NHS staff can look up your records by name and date of birth. The NHS number is a useful identifier, but it is not a gateway to care.
Does it change when you move house or change GP?
No. Your NHS number does not change when you move. When you register with a new GP practice, they look up your existing NHS record using your name, date of birth, and previous address. Your existing record, with your original NHS number, is transferred to the new practice. You do not get a new number.
The same applies when you change your name. Your NHS number stays the same. You would need to inform your GP practice of the name change so that your records are updated, but the number itself does not change.
Using your NHS number for digital services
Your NHS number is the key that connects your NHS App account to your health records. When you set up the NHS App with identity verification, it links to your number automatically — you do not need to enter it manually.
GP online services work the same way. Your NHS login account is tied to your NHS number behind the scenes, which is how your prescriptions, appointments, and records are associated with you.
For GP Online Services and NHS App setup, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-app-help-and-support/
If you have never been registered with an NHS GP in England
If you have recently moved to England from abroad, or have never registered with a GP in England, you may not yet have an NHS number. An NHS number is assigned when you first register with the NHS — typically when you register with a GP for the first time.
Once you register with a GP practice, they will arrange for an NHS number to be issued to you. If you have previously lived in England and been registered with the NHS, your original number should be retrievable even if you have not used NHS services for years.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Scotland uses the Community Health Index (CHI) number. Wales and Northern Ireland use the NHS number system but the records are managed separately. This page covers England. If you have NHS records in more than one country of the UK, you may have different identifiers in different systems — your GP can clarify if this is relevant to your situation.
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Common questions about NHS numbers
What is my NHS number used for?▾
Your NHS number is used to link your health records across different NHS services. It connects your GP records, hospital records, and prescriptions. It is also needed to set up the NHS App and access GP online services. NHS staff use it to ensure they are accessing the correct patient's records.
Where is the easiest place to find my NHS number?▾
The NHS App is the fastest option for most people. Open the app, go to your profile, and your number is displayed there. If you do not have the app, check any letter or appointment document from the NHS — it appears on most NHS correspondence.
Can I access NHS care if I don't have my NHS number?▾
Yes. NHS staff look up patients by name and date of birth if you do not know your number. Not having it with you does not prevent you from being seen, treated, or collecting a prescription. Your number is useful, not essential.
Does my NHS number change when I move house or change GP?▾
No. Your NHS number is permanent and unique. It does not change when you move, change GP, or change your name. When you register with a new GP, they retrieve your existing record using your name and date of birth.
How do I find my child's NHS number?▾
Check the child's personal child health record (the red book) given to parents at birth — it contains the NHS number. It also appears on any NHS correspondence relating to the child. If you cannot find it, your GP practice can tell you.
I've never been registered with a GP in England — do I have an NHS number?▾
If you have never received NHS care in England, you may not yet have an NHS number. An NHS number is created when you first register with the NHS. Register with a GP practice and an NHS number will be issued to you. Your GP practice handles this automatically as part of the registration process.
Is an NHS number the same as a National Insurance number?▾
No. They are completely different. Your NHS number identifies you within the NHS health system. Your National Insurance number is used by HMRC and DWP for tax, NI contributions, and benefits. They look different too — an NHS number is 10 digits (e.g. 485 777 3456), while a National Insurance number is in the format XX 99 99 99 X.