Records

Everyone who is registered with the NHS in England and Wales has their own unique NHS Number. You will be given your NHS Number in writing when you register with a GP. Your NHS Number helps healthcare staff to find your health records.

Each NHS Number is made up of 10 digits
shown in a 3-3-4 format, usually as follows:

(This is an example only.)

If you have an old medical card, it will have an old-style NHS Number made up of both letters and numbers. This has now been replaced, for all patients, by a new NHS Number made up entirely of numbers.

Your NHS Number is unique to you. Using your NHS Number to identify you correctly is an important step towards improving the safety and efficiency of your healthcare.

If you know your NHS Number, or have it on a document or letter, you can help healthcare staff find your records more easily and share them safely with other people who are caring for you.

NHS staff will begin to ask for your NHS Number more often, so remember to keep it in a safe place that you have easy access to.

No, it is not essential to know your NHS Number, but it can sometimes be helpful if you are able to give it to NHS staff who need to find your health records.

No, your NHS Number is different from your NI number, which is used for tax, benefits and pensions. If you have any questions about your NI number, contact your local office of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

To find your local office, visit www.dwp.gov.uk.

If you want to know your NHS Number, or you have an old-style number and want to know your new one, please follow the instructions below.

You can also check any recent letters you have had from the NHS, as these should now include your NHS Number. It is important to keep a record of your NHS Number safe, as it will be used in any letters or health records about you.

I am registered with a GP surgery. What is my NHS Number?
To find out your NHS Number, contact your GP surgery and ask them to look it up. To protect your privacy, you may be asked to show a passport, driving licence or some other proof of identity. If you're registered with a GP, you will already have an NHS Number

I am not currently registered with a GP surgery, but I think I already have an NHS Number. How do I find out what it is?
To find out your NHS Number in this case, you can ask your local primary care trust (PCT) to look it up for you.

You can search for your nearest PCT on NHS Choices by selecting the Find and choose services option and entering your postcode. Or, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

When you phone your local PCT, ask for the department dealing with patient GP registrations. They can give you your NHS Number or direct you to the right person within that PCT.

Anyone born in England or Wales who has registered with a GP surgery will have an NHS Number. If you have never registered with a GP surgery, you will not have an NHS Number .

To register, you can either go to the surgery yourself or ask your local primary care trust (PCT) to put you on the GP surgery’s list that you choose.

To find your nearest GP surgery or PCT visit our Find and choose services section. Alternatively, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

If you are a visitor to this country and require NHS care, you will be allocated an NHS Number where it is possible to do so. In cases where the organisation is unable to allocate an NHS Number directly, you will be given a local number (for example a hospital number).

Having an NHS Number does not entitle you to free NHS treatment. More information on overseas visitors using the NHS is available on the Department of Health website.

If your baby was born in a hospital in England or Wales, they should have been given an NHS Number through the hospital system shortly after the birth.

If your baby was born at home, the health visitor will usually tell you the baby’s NHS Number when they next see you and the baby at your home or at their clinic.

The new-style 10-digit NHS Number was created specifically to help make it easier for patients to be uniquely identified across the NHS.

The first nine digits are used to identify you and the 10th is used to confirm that the number is valid. This 10-digit number was introduced in 1996 (replacing the older version) to improve accuracy, access to information and confidentiality.