NHS login | eConsult feature
Patients using eConsult through web browsers (on laptops, desktops and mobile devices) are now able to use NHS login to verify their identity and pre-populate demographic details when completing eConsults. For practices, NHS login provides patient verification and opens up opportunities for further integrations involving eConsult.
What is NHS login?
NHS login makes it easier and quicker for patients to securely access digital health and care services with one username and password. NHS login is how patients currently access the NHS App.
The first time they set up their NHS login, they will need to prove who they are, so that their NHS record can be connected to their details. Once verified, patients can use NHS login to access any website or app where they see ‘NHS login’, such as the NHS App or the website version of eConsult.
How does NHS login benefit patients?
Watch a quick video showing how NHS login can help to improve the experience for patients using eConsult.
Login to populate personal details
At the start of the patient’s journey on a specific clinical or administrative eConsult questionnaire, patients now have the option to ‘Continue using NHS login’. If they choose this option, they will be prompted to sign into NHS login before continuing with their submission.
Confirm your details
Pre-populated demographic details allow patients to confirm that their information is up to date, and amend it before submission if it is not. These currently include NHS number, date of birth, name, email address and mobile number. Reducing the number of personal details that patients have to complete, by pre-populating these from their NHS record, will shorten the time to complete an eConsult.
Warning if not submitting to your registered practice
NHS login will also prompt patients to confirm they are submitting to the right practice, by reminding them which practice they are registered at, according to NHS records. If a patient tries to submit to a practice that they are not registered at, they will see a note letting them know this. They will have the opportunity to confirm if they are or are not registered at this practice.
If a patient clicks ‘No’ to the above question, they will be informed that they are unable to continue and should check if their own practice offers eConsult. It will also prompt them to register with the practice if they are a new patient.
Patients that use NHS login from the practice that they are actually registered at will not be asked to confirm that this is their registered practice.
Why use NHS login?
We know that having multiple accounts and passwords can be hard to remember, which is why eConsult has never had a patient login function. We believe it makes more sense to use existing NHS features, such as NHS login, to create this unified and consistent journey for patients.
Patients across England who are already using the NHS App to access eConsult will be familiar with the benefits of using NHS login and will have set up an NHS login account as part of their registration with the App. At the moment, neither NHS login nor the NHS App are available outside of England. We would encourage practices in England to explain the benefits of NHS login and the App to patients.
Patients using eConsult through web browsers (on laptops, desktops and mobile devices) are now able to use NHS login to verify their identity and pre-populate demographic details when completing eConsults. For practices, NHS login provides patient verification and opens up opportunities for further integrations involving eConsult.
How will NHS login benefit practices?
Registering for NHS login includes verification of patients’ identity, carried out by the NHS. This means that any patient using NHS login to complete an eConsult is verified, and you can be reassured that they are who they say they are.
Patients using NHS login will be marked as verified on their eConsult submission, and their NHS number will appear on the eConsult report. This will also make it easier for you to match patients’ eConsults to their record.
NHS login also opens up opportunities for eConsult to integrate into other healthcare processes, and we will update this page as these develop.