Proxy application service

The Proxy application service (PAS) is part of the National proxy service (NPS).

Proxy access lets a trusted person, a proxy, act on behalf of a patient online, to help them with their health and care. Proxies can use the NHS App, or GP systems, to complete tasks for patients such as ordering repeat prescriptions, booking appointments or checking test results. 

Patients, or their proxies, at a GP practice taking part in our pilot can apply for proxy access online, by choosing Manage health services for others in the NHS App, and selecting either Apply to access services for someone else or Give someone you trust access to your services.

GP practices get an emailed application and follow our guidance to decide if proxy access is safe, necessary and relevant. If so, they get consent from the patient if needed, and set up access in their GP IT system. 

The proxy can then act on behalf of the patient using their own NHS App. 

This service is for:

• patients who want someone they trust to help with their health and care and do health related tasks online for them in a safe way that protects their privacy and choice
• carers who want to complete digital tasks for the person they care for quickly and efficiently
• parents who need to manage their children’s health and care digitally to work around busy schedules
• GP practices who want to increase the percentage of transactions their patients do online, reducing phone calls and foot traffic
• GP practice staff who need an efficient digital method of receiving and processing applications and managing proxy access

Within the NHS App, PAS can be used by:

• patients aged 16 or over to apply to give someone access to their GP services
• proxies aged 16 or over to apply for access to another patient's GP services, if the patient is an adult
• proxies aged 13 or over to apply for access to a child's GP services, if they have parental responsibility for them

Both the patient and proxy need to be registered at the same GP practice.

The Proxy application service is only available to GP practices taking part in our pilot.

The pilot currently includes 68 practices. There are a limited number of spaces still available, and we are continuing to onboard select practices that meet the pilot criteria.

During 2026 the service will become available to more GP practices, and will eventually become mandatory for all GP practices, as it will be available to all patients using the NHS App in England.

Practices taking part in the pilot have reported:

• quicker and simpler set-up of proxy access
• clearer guidance and support for staff
• improved experience for patients and carers

We're also tracking key performance indicators including:

• time taken to set up proxy access
• number of active proxy users
• support queries and resolution times

Safe and appropriate proxy access improves patient care and extends the benefits of GP online services (NHS England) to those who are unable to use them themselves.

1. Patients apply for proxy access using Apply to access services for someone else or Give someone you trust access to your services, within Manage health services for others on the NHS App.

2. PAS uses the Validated Relationship Service  API to check if there is a verified parental relationship in PDS, and sends the application information to the GP practice by email. 

3. The GP practice then reviews the application to decide if proxy access is safe, necessary and relevant, and get patient consent if needed, before setting up any access in the GP IT system. 

4. When proxy access is set up, proxies can act on behalf of the person they care for, using their own NHS App. 

5. In the future, GP IT integration will mean application information is received directly into the GP IT system for easier GP workflow.

We check that:

• the applicant is who they say they are (we verify their identity by using the highest level of verification (P9) through NHS login)
• the proxy and patient are both aged 16 or over, if the application is for access to an adult's GP services
• the proxy is aged 13 or over, if the application is for access to a child's GP services (we check that the child is aged 15 or under)
• the proxy and patient are both registered at the same GP practice that's taking part in our pilot

You'll only receive applications that pass these checks.

This service cannot be used if the NHS record of the proxy or the patient shows either person as deceased.

PAS is in Private Beta. 

This service is still being piloted and is a bronze service. 

Future planned work during 2025-27 includes:

• improving the application and management of proxy for patients within Manage health services for others in the NHS App
• integration with GP IT to improve workflow for GP practices
• extending the pilot to become a national service in England
• making proxy access available to patients with a proxy at a different GP practice
• integrating the service with a new data store for proxy relationships, part of the National proxy service

GP practices and ICBs interested in joining our pilot can email us on [email protected].

Our pilot support team provides onboarding guidance, resources and a contact for technical and operational support.

You can find full instructions for GP practice staff in our GP resource hub.

More detailed guidance and resources are available on the NHS Futures platform, including:

• FAQs
• case studies from other practices
• technical support information

For more information about the proxy application service, email: [email protected].

This email address is for GP practice and healthcare workers only. We are unable to reply to queries from members of the public or patients.