History of the NHS Number
The NHS Number was developed in the last decade specifically to support unique patient identification within the NHS.
A display format for the NHS Number is recommended as shown below. Ideally a minimum of a 3-3-4 format should be used.
The NHS Number is a unique 10-digit number. The first nine digits are the identifier and the tenth is a check digit used to confirm the number's validity.
This style of numbering was introduced in 1996 replacing a variety of previous systems.
The presence of an NHS Number on all patient records, both paper and electronic, is now mandatory.
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) published a Safer Practice Notice (SPN) for the NHS Number in September 2008 which mandated the use of the NHS Number as the national patient identifier OR alongside any local identifier used.
It must be used alongside other demographic information as part of safe practice to link together the correct records to a particular patient.
"My NHS Number is important because it is the way the NHS identifies me when it cares for me. As a patient, I need to be able to recognise my own NHS Number and check it on things the NHS sends me. Keeping it safe and handy helps me to help the NHS find my records more quickly and treat me safely" - Marlene Winfield OBE, Director for Patients and Public, NHS Connecting for Health.
Babies born in England and Wales are allocated an NHS Number at birth. An NHS Number can also be allocated to a patient who:
- permanently joins an NHS GP surgery or Health Centre practice list
- receives treatment from a hospital able to allocate NHS Numbers
- requests one from a Primary Care Trust who will allocate them to a local NHS GP practice list
To find out your NHS Number please contact your primary care trust. For more information on your NHS Number you can download the patient information leaflet (PDF 1.2Mb) or order the patient information leaflet.