Do you need your NHS number?
No, you don’t need to know your NHS number to access NHS services. However, it can be useful to have it so that healthcare staff can find your health records and share information with other medical staff.
So. No/yes. You don’t absolutely need to know. More of that later.
[“very helpful MyHSN.” Ed]
The NHS number is on an NHS medical card issued at birth
What is an NHS number?
First if all, what is the NHS number? The NHS number is given to you on a card [“well, not to you exactly, Mum/Dad etc!” Ed] when you are born. It has 10 digits.
This is how to find it :
- On the NHS website
- It should also be at the top of NHS hospital letters about you.
S0. Why do you need to know your NHS number?
As we said, you don’t absolutely need to know it. In fact, may people aren’t even aware they have one. But ..
You will need it when registering on the NHS app. It is expressed as 3 groups of numbers, like this: 123 456 7891 – like in the photo above.
There are other reasons for knowing it. For example, if you have a common name (or a long one that is hard to spell), knowing it helps staff ensure they have your correct notes – i.e. to identify yourself correctly.
If ‘your’ number is wrong, blood tests etc can be misinterpreted about you when they about someone else.
Another ‘NHS number’ + different NHS computer systems
You may also have a local hospital number. These have different formats around the country. Its good to know that too.
It is a type of NHS number but not your actual NHS number.
[“great, more confusion, thanks NHS” Ed]
Why do different numbers exist? Information about you will be on several different NHS computer systems – e.g. more than one local hospital, mental health, pharmacy and GP – all with different local numbers. But the NHS number will be the same.
And the NHS App, it is hoped, will link them all up one day [“when?” Ed]. ONE day [“yeah yeah .. thought so”].
Why is there no national ID card, including the NHS number?
That is a bigger question beyond myHSN! It may seem a good idea to have one ID card (e.g. passport, drivers license, NHS and National Insurance). But many are not keen on the creeping powers of the ‘deep state’. 1984. Big Brother etc.
Summary
We have described whether you need your NHS number. No, but it helps alot. You can get your number from NHS or hospital letters or find it online. It is increasingly important to know it.
