NHS App

The app is available for anyone aged 13+ who is registered with an NHS GP surgery in England.

If you’re a member of the armed forces or are a veteran, service leaver or non-mobilised reservist, you may not be able to use the app (the Ministry of Defence is responsible for providing general healthcare and some areas of specialist healthcare for most serving personnel and mobilised reservists).

If you’re registered at a surgery provided by Defence Medical Services, you cannot currently use the NHS App.

You will need an email address to use the NHS App.

The NHS App can be downloaded on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. You can download the app here using the Apple Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)

Alternatively, you can search the term ‘NHS App’ on the App Store or on Google Play. It is the app with the NHS icon next to its name (see below).

Unfortunately, the NHS App is only supported on iOS or Android smartphone and tablet devices. You can still access some of your UHSussex record, as well as your appointments and referrals by using our patient portal ‘Patient Knows Best’.

To set up your NHS App for the first time you will need:

• an email address
• a mobile phone number
• your name
• your date of birth
• your postcode.

A six-digit security code will be sent to your email. You will be asked to enter this code to verify your email address and continue.

You will then be asked to give your mobile phone number, and another six-digit security code will be sent by text message to your mobile phone.

A security code will be sent to your mobile phone every time you log in, unless you select ‘remember this device and stop sending security codes’.

You can log in to the app using your email, password and security code that will be sent to you by text message. However, if you press ‘remember me on this device’ you won’t need a security code each time.

You will also be able to log in through biometrics if your device offers that feature, which means using your fingerprint or a scan of your face or iris. This is a highly secure way of logging in, and means you won’t need to use your email, password and security code. Even if your phone has been lost or stolen, no one would be able to access your NHS App.

Before you can access all the functions, you may be required to prove who you are to keep your information secure.

The app may require you to provide photographic ID of one of the following:

• passport
• UK driving licence (full or provisional)
• European driving licence (full)
• European national identity card

The photo can be uploaded or taken directly on the app, and it may take up to 24 hours for the information to pass the checks.

An email will be sent to you once the checks are complete and you will then have full access to the NHS App functions.

The app may also require you to provide video evidence, which can be uploaded directly via the NHS App – the app will show you four digits on the screen and ask that you record yourself saying these numbers, with your face shown clearly.

The NHS App has been designed to keep your information safe and confidential. The app securely connects you to information from your GP surgery.

To keep your access secure, you can also enable various security methods:

you can use advanced security features such as biometrics (fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, and iris scanning) so that only you can access the NHS App, no matter the location of your device.

a security code can be sent to your phone each time you use the app (this feature can be disabled if you choose).

We want to ensure every patient has the experience of using the NHS App to manage their appointments.

Whilst some services are already set up to provide digital correspondence, The remaining services are being rolled out in stages across all UHSussex hospitals, to help manage the initial volume of patients and appointments.

We are aiming to allow for all patients to have access to digital correspondence by the end of 2025.

If you do not take up the option of using the NHS app for your hospital appointments, you will still receive paper copies of your letters.

If you choose to use the app, you will no longer receive paper copies. However, as we roll out the service, turning on the new service and updating patient preferences, you may still receive paper copy letters in the short term.

Eventually all of your letters will be available digitally in the app.

Yes, if you choose to. You can add them as a carer on your record. They can then view your record via the sharing tab on their own record.

This depends on the type of information. For example, clinic and appointment letters will be available after a few days. Radiology reports are released after 28 days. For blood tests, most are released after a few days, but some results are withheld for 28 days to allow your clinician time to discuss the results with you first.

Appointment data will be available immediately as soon as it is booked by the trust. Appointment letters take 24 hours to appear, other letters can take a little longer depending on how long it take the teams to type up the discharge summaries.

My Health and Care Record is completely optional but there are many benefits to patients having access to their own online personal health record and who want to share their information with their choice of clinicians, carers and family members. If you choose not to register, you will receive your appointment letters and clinical communication through the post in exactly the same way as before.

If you wish to object to your healthcare information being stored in the My Health Care Record application, please contact the Trust’s Data Protection Officer by emailing:  [email protected].

When you register, you will be asked to provide an email address. A notification is sent to this email address when new information is available.

An internet enabled device and an email address. With help to sign in or register, see our Patient Knows Best Manual.

Yes. Your data is encrypted and maintained in line with University Hospitals Sussex Trust Data Protection Policies. Your data is not held on your computer device. Patient information is encrypted so that only those people with consent to view your information can do so.

If you have any questions about your health, you should contact your clinical team or GP. If your question concerns the Patients Know Best platform, you can email the team at [email protected]. If you are having difficulty registering access the Patient Knows Best manual.  

Patients are able to access Lab Tests Online which provides explanatory information about blood test results. The link to this website can also be found on the My Health and Care Record interface. We have seen patients’ confidence and understanding growing over time.

Patients Know Best is a patient engagement portal which can be accessed online via the PKB login page and also via the NHS App. PKB is available within the NHS App.

Every patient has different needs, and we would recommend using PKB as frequently as required. There are several features that allow you to monitor and take control of your health that you may find useful. These are a journal and symptom tracker and the ability to connect to your devices.

We are continually listening to our patients to find out their preferred features. Our recent survey informed us that the most popular new feature is the ability to manage appointments online. We are looking into how we are going to develop this functionality.