The importance of your NHS Number - Do you know yours?
Your NHS Number is unique to you and is used to help healthcare staff, including doctors and hospital staff, match you to your health records. As part of a major national campaign, NHS Stoke on Trent Community Health Services is working to ensure everyone - members of the public and healthcare staff alike - are familiar with and use the NHS Number every time there is correspondence between the two.
Each NHS Number is a unique 10-digit number which is printed on your NHS medical card. NHS patients do not need to know their NHS Number to receive NHS care. However, if you do know your NHS Number or can show your medical card when you present to an NHS provider, this can help those treating you to find your records and share them safely with other healthcare professionals providing you with care.
Consistent use of the NHS Number will lead to a more efficient service, benefitting both patients and those looking after their care. As an added safety measure, it is also helpful for you to check correspondence you receive to make sure NHS services are using the right NHS Number for you. Your NHS Number is different from your National Insurance (NI) number, which is issued for tax and pensions.
How to find your NHS Number
You should find your NHS Number on your medical card or recent correspondence from the NHS. If not, you can ask your GP practice to supply it for you.
If you have never registered with a GP practice, you will not have an NHS Number. When you register with a local GP practice, you will be given an NHS Number as part of registration. You can either go to a GP practice yourself to register or ask NHS Stoke on Trent Community Health Services to put you on the list of a local GP practice.
If you have recently had a baby, it will have been given an NHS Number soon after birth. If your baby was born at home, you will receive an NHS Number when you register your baby's birth.
Confidentiality
Your health records are confidential and the use of the NHS Number will not change this. Confidentiality of your information is of paramount importance to NHS Stoke on Trent Community Health Services and we are committed to compliance with the NHS Care Record Guarantee, the NHS Confidentiality Code of Conduct and Data Protection legislation. Under this guidance, all of our staff are required to protect patient information, inform patients of how their information will be used and allow them to decide if and how that information can be shared.
Remember, your NHS Number is unique to you. Using your NHS Number to identify you correctly is an important step towards improving the safety of your healthcare. If you know your NHS Number, or can show your medical card, you can help healthcare staff find your records more easily and share them safely with others who are caring for you.
More information can also be found in the patient leaflet called Your Information – What You Need to Know.
