Your NHS Number helps to find your health records.
Everyone registered with the NHS in England and Wales has their own unique number.
If you’re registered with a GP, you will already have an NHS Number. Your NHS number will be on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, such as prescriptions, test results, and appointment letters.
How do I find my NHS Number?
Contact your GP practice and ask them to look it up for you. Find your nearest GP in London here.
If you have an old medical card, it may have an old-style NHS Number made up of both letters and numbers. However, in recent years this has been replaced for all patients with an NHS Number made up entirely of numbers.
What is my NHS Number?
The NHS Number is normally shown in a ‘3-3-4’ format e.g. 943 476 5919 (this is an example number only)
The 10-digit NHS Number was introduced in 1996 and replaced different versions that included both letters and numbers.
You do not need an NHS Number to register with a GP practice.
Using your NHS Number is a better way of finding your information than using just your name and date of birth, particularly with computer systems. It will help to avoid mistaking you for another person which can be caused by errors such as misspelt names or by people having the same or similar names and the same date of birth.
You should be able to find your NHS Number from the following sources:
- on a letter or other document from the NHS, including a letter from your GP practice or a hospital
- on a printed prescription.
If you are registered with a GP practice they should be able to give you a note of your NHS number on your request.
If you are not currently registered with a GP practice, but then register with one, they will be able to give you a note of your NHS number once the registration process is complete.
If you have never been registered with a GP practice in England, Wales or the Isle of Man, have never received any NHS treatment, and were not born in England, Wales or the Isle of Man you will not have an NHS number.
When you register with a GP practice they will check whether you have an NHS Number and if not you will be given one.