# Seeing your GP health record in the NHS App

> What parts of your GP record you can see in the NHS App, why it helps, what to do if something looks wrong and how to keep it private.

- URL: https://digitalhealthcoachuk.net/gp-record/
- Section: Using NHS services online
- Page type: guide
- Last updated: 2026-10-28
- Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-28
- Written by: Sean Key, digital health programme manager (not a clinician)
- Publisher: Digital Health Coach UK (https://digitalhealthcoachuk.net/), independent and not part of the NHS

This page is general information, not personal medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent help that is not an emergency use NHS 111 online (https://111.nhs.uk/) or call 111.

In England, the NHS App shows you much of what your GP surgery records about you: your medicines, allergies, test results, letters and appointment notes. Most people can automatically see new entries added since late 2023. Older entries may need a request to your surgery. If something looks wrong, contact your GP surgery and ask them to check it.

You need to have set up the NHS App and proved who you are first. See [getting started with the NHS App](https://digitalhealthcoachuk.net/nhs-app-getting-started/).

## Where to find your record

There is no longer a single "GP health record" button. Since the app's new home screen arrived in March 2026, your record is spread across the home screen:

- **Prescriptions**: your medicines
- **Appointments**: appointment notes and other updates
- **Test results**: results from tests your GP surgery arranged, and in some areas results from tests your hospital arranged
- **Documents**: letters and other documents from your GP surgery, and hospital and specialist documents and questionnaires
- **Vaccinations** and **Health conditions** (or **Allergies and adverse reactions**): shown depending on your surgery

The first time you open test results, you are asked to read a notice about sensitive information.

### Other apps

The NHS App is not the only way in. You may be able to use another GP online services app or website, and some are only offered in certain areas. Ask your GP surgery which ones work with its system. Examples include:

- [Patient Access](https://www.patientaccess.com/), for surgeries that use the EMIS system
- [Airmid](https://airmidcares.co.uk/), made by TPP, for surgeries that use the SystmOne system
- [myGP](https://www.mygp.com/), which lets you view your medical record and sign in with NHS login

Each app shows your record and results slightly differently. Some hospitals also have their own apps for results; ask your hospital.

## What you can see

There are two levels of access.

| Level | What it includes |
| --- | --- |
| Summary record | Medicines and allergies. Everyone with a GP record gets at least this. |
| Detailed coded record | Adds test results, letters and appointment notes. |

GP surgeries in England are required under their contract to give patients online access to new entries in their record. This covers medicines, test results, appointment notes and letters from other services, such as hospital clinic letters and discharge summaries.

Most people were given this automatically for information added from November 2023. Information from before then may only show if your surgery has given you access to it. You can ask them.

Some things will not appear, even with full access:

- most results from tests a hospital ordered, unless your area shows them under **Hospital-ordered test results** (some hospitals share them through a separate personal health record service)
- private tests
- maternity checks and tests
- records from a previous surgery, which may not have moved across automatically

## Why it can help

- You can check your medicines and allergies are right before an appointment or a hospital stay.
- You can see test results without phoning the surgery.
- You can reread what was discussed at an appointment, which helps if you were anxious or given a lot to take in.
- You can spot mistakes, such as a wrong address or a condition you have never had.
- If you care for someone, you may be able to help them through [family and carer access](https://digitalhealthcoachuk.net/proxy-access/).

## Why the NHS opened up records to patients

Since 31 October 2023, GP surgeries in England have been required to give patients online access to new entries in their record, unless an exception applies. NHS England brought this in as part of its 2023 plan for recovering access to primary care.

NHS England gave several reasons:

- patients have a right to see their own health information
- people can look at their record when it suits them, and manage their health better
- it can lead to better conversations with clinicians
- surgeries that went first reported fewer phone calls about test results and fewer formal requests for copies of records

Safeguards come with it. Surgeries screen information as it is added, and they can hold back or hide entries for patients who might be put at risk, such as people experiencing domestic abuse.

## Videos about seeing your record

Two short explainers, if you prefer to watch: eGPlearning shows how to see your GP record in the NHS App, and the Patients Association's webinar (about an hour) covers what record access means for patients.

- [Access your NHS GP medical records](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hekk5jTidA) (video, eGPlearning (Dr Hussain Gandhi))
- [Online access to GP health records: what's in it for patients?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaCfHJiNyO0) (video, The Patients Association)

## Things to think about before you look

Seeing your record is your right, and most people find it helpful. But it is worth thinking about a few things first.

- **Forgotten history.** Your record may include things from years ago that you had put to the back of your mind. Reading them again can be upsetting.
- **Other people seeing it.** If someone else uses your phone or computer, they might see something you would rather keep private. Think about who could pick up your device.
- **Information about other people.** If you tell your doctor something about your partner, child or another relative, it may be written in your record. If that person later sees your record, it could cause problems. The surgery can hold back information about other people, so ask if you are worried.
- **Bad news before you have talked to anyone.** You may read a result or letter before a doctor or nurse has explained it (see below).
- **Teenagers and confidentiality.** Older children may want to talk to their GP in confidence. A parent's access to a child's record is usually switched off somewhere between the ages of 11 and 14, to protect this. From 13, a young person can use the NHS App with their own login. See [family and carer access](https://digitalhealthcoachuk.net/proxy-access/) for how this works.

If you decide you would rather not have online access, or want some entries hidden, tell your surgery.

Parts of this section, and the tips on results and appointments below, are adapted with his permission from material by Dr Amir Hannan, a GP at Haughton Thornley Medical Centres (HTMC). [Read HTMC's guide to seeing your GP record](https://www.htmc.co.uk/do-you-want-to-see-what-your-doctor-or-nurse-has-written-about-you-or-check-your-gp-electronic-health-record-2/).

## Understanding your test results

### Seeing results before you have talked to anyone

You may see a result before a doctor or nurse has explained it to you. Results are reviewed by a healthcare professional first, and clinicians can hold back a result they want to discuss with you. But this does not always happen.

If you tend to worry, you can ask your surgery to hide certain results, or to switch off result viewing. If a result arrives out of hours and you know it will worry you, it is fine to wait until the surgery opens before you look.

### Reading a result

- **Reference ranges.** Most results show a "normal" range next to them. These are standard ranges, and they do not fit everyone. Your age, sex, ethnicity and health conditions can all make a difference.
- **Outside the range does not always mean a problem.** And being inside the range does not always mean everything is fine. Doctors look at how far outside the range a result is, your history, and earlier results.
- **Not every abnormal result is flagged.** Some results, especially written ones, cannot be marked as abnormal by the laboratory.
- **Read any comments.** Comments added to a result often explain it. They are usually written for the doctor, so they may not make sense to you.
- **Learn what is normal for you.** This matters if you have a long-term condition, because your results may differ from other people's. Some people can see a graph of the same test over time.

Medical shorthand can be confusing. The NHS App help pages have a [list of common abbreviations](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/understanding-abbreviations/). These sites can help you understand what a test is for:

- [Lab Tests Online-UK](https://labtestsonline.org.uk/) explains blood and other laboratory tests. It is run by the Association for Laboratory Medicine, with the Royal College of Pathologists and the Institute of Biomedical Science.
- [MyPathologyReport](https://www.mypathologyreport.ca/) explains pathology (tissue sample) reports. It is a Canadian site, so some terms and services differ from the UK.

If a result worries you, contact the surgery and ask to speak to the clinician who requested the test.

## If something looks wrong or is missing

1. **Wrong personal details** (such as your address or phone number): ask your GP surgery to update them.
2. **Missing information**: ask your surgery whether you have access to the detailed record, and to older entries if you need them.
3. **Something you think is factually wrong**: contact your surgery. Say what you think is wrong, how it should be put right, and any evidence you have. It helps to follow up in writing.
4. **The record is not yours at all**: contact the NHS App team straight away using the [NHS App contact form](https://www.nhs.uk/contact-us/nhs-app-contact-us/).

Under data protection law, organisations generally have one month to respond to a request to correct your data. A clinician's recorded opinion is harder to challenge than a plain fact. If you are not happy with the answer, complain to the surgery first. You can then complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

### Asking for more access

If you have proved who you are in the app but cannot see your results or documents, ask your surgery to turn on access. You can use its online form or write to the practice manager. You could say:

> Please give me online access to my detailed GP record, including test results, letters and appointment notes, through the NHS App. I would also like access to entries from before November 2023, if possible. I understand the surgery may hide some information, and I will keep my login secure.

Include your name, date of birth and NHS number if you know it. The surgery decides what is safe to share.

## Asking for a full copy of your record

The app does not let you download your record, and it may not show older entries. You have a legal right to ask for a copy of the information your surgery holds about you. This is called a subject access request.

1. **Ask your GP surgery.** You can ask in writing, by email, by phone or in person. Many surgeries have a form on their website, which can help them find your information faster.
2. **Say what you want.** For example, your whole record, or entries between certain dates. Include your name, date of birth, NHS number if you know it, and how you would like to receive the copy.
3. **Be ready to prove who you are.** The surgery may ask for ID, such as a passport or driving licence. The time limit starts once they have it.
4. **Keep a note** of when you asked and who you spoke to.

In most cases a copy is free. The surgery should reply within one month. It can extend this by up to two more months if the request is complex, but it must tell you why within the first month. It may hold back information that could cause serious harm, or that is about other people.

You do not have to give a reason. Someone else, such as a relative, can ask for you if they have your written permission.

If you are unhappy with how your request is handled, complain to the surgery first, then to the ICO.

## Keeping your record private

Your health record is confidential. Only staff who need to see it to care for you should look at it. Privacy is your right to control who sees your information; confidentiality is the duty on NHS staff to protect it. Every NHS organisation must have a Caldicott Guardian: a senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of people's health and care information.

Your part is keeping your own login safe:

- Set a screen lock on your phone. On a shared device, others may be able to open the app.
- Use face or fingerprint log-in, or a passkey, rather than writing down your password.
- Never share your NHS login. If someone needs to help you, they can get their own access through your surgery, with limits you agree.
- If anyone pressures you to show them your record, contact your GP surgery.
- If seeing your record could put you at risk, for example from someone you live with, tell your surgery. They can hide entries or turn off online access.

### Strong passwords and other online safety

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the UK government, recommends six steps. Each one links to its advice:

1. [Protect your email with a strong, separate password](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online). Your email can be used to reset your other accounts.
2. [Use three random words](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online) to make a password that is long but easy to remember.
3. [Use a password manager](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online), which can create and store passwords for you.
4. [Turn on 2-step verification](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online), so a code or prompt is needed as well as your password.
5. [Install the latest software and app updates](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online) to fix security weaknesses.
6. [Back up your data](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online), such as photos and important documents.

For how the NHS uses your information beyond your own care, see [NHS data choices](https://digitalhealthcoachuk.net/nhs-data-choices/).

## Questions people ask

### What if I see someone else's information?

Stop reading and log out. If a letter or result is about someone else, tell your GP surgery. If the whole record is not yours, contact the NHS App team using the [NHS App contact form](https://www.nhs.uk/contact-us/nhs-app-contact-us/).

### Is it safe to look at my record on a public computer?

It is best not to. Your record shows details such as your address and NHS number. If you have to use a shared or public computer, check no one can see the screen, and log out and close the browser when you finish.

### Can I change my record by mistake?

No. You can read your record, but you cannot change what your surgery has written. If you order a prescription or book an appointment by mistake, you can usually cancel it, or contact the surgery.

### Can I take my record to an appointment?

Yes. You can show it on your phone. The app does not let you download your record, but you can ask your surgery for a printed or digital copy of your results. It can help to bring recent letters and results if you are seeing someone outside your GP surgery.

### What if a doctor or nurse does not want to look at it?

Be polite. You brought it to help them, not to challenge them. They may prefer to use their own system, which can show the same information.

## When to get help

- **Call 999** if you or someone else has a life-threatening emergency. Do not wait to check your record.
- **Use NHS 111 online or call 111** if you have new or worsening symptoms and need help today, whatever your record says.
- **Contact your GP surgery** if a result worries you, you do not understand something, information is wrong or missing, or you want entries hidden.
- **Ask a pharmacist** if the medicines listed do not match what you are taking.

## Sources

- [NHS: Videos about how to use the NHS App, with transcripts](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/videos/)
- [NHS: GP health record in the NHS App](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/health-records-in-the-nhs-app/gp-health-record/)
- [NHS: Viewing test results in the NHS App](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/health-records-in-the-nhs-app/test-results/)
- [NHS: View your test results](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/view-your-test-results/)
- [NHS: NHS App release notes](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/about/nhs-app-release-notes/)
- [NHS: Getting full access to the NHS App](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/setting-up/get-full-access/)
- [NHS England: Online access to new GP health record information](https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/online-access-to-new-gp-health-record-information/)
- [NHS England Digital: GP health records in the NHS App](https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-app/nhs-app-features/gp-health-records-in-the-app)
- [NHS: How to give someone you trust access to your online health services](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/health-services-for-someone-else-family-carer-access/give-someone-access-health-services/)
- [NHS: Get technical support for the NHS App](https://www.nhs.uk/contact-us/nhs-app-contact-us/)
- [Leeds Health and Care Partnership: GP record access, how to understand test results](https://leedshcp.mixd.co.uk/?p=31504)
- [Lab Tests Online-UK: About Lab Tests Online-UK](https://labtestsonline.org.uk/about-lab-tests-online-uk)
- [App Store: myGP (iPlato)](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/mygp/id1042280626)
- [Haughton Thornley Medical Centres: Do you want to see what your doctor or nurse has written about you?](https://www.htmc.co.uk/do-you-want-to-see-what-your-doctor-or-nurse-has-written-about-you-or-check-your-gp-electronic-health-record-2/)
- [NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight: About your health and care records](https://hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/information/about-your-health-and-care-records)
- [GOV.UK: UK Caldicott Guardian Council](https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-caldicott-guardian-council)
- [NCSC: Top tips for staying secure online](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online)
- [NHS: How to get family and carer access for children under 16](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/health-services-for-someone-else-family-carer-access/how-to-get-family-carer-access-children-under-16/)
- [ICO: Your right to get your data corrected](https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/your-right-to-get-your-data-corrected/)
- [ICO: Getting copies of your information (subject access request)](https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/getting-copies-of-your-information-subject-access-request/)
- [ICO: A guide to subject access](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/subject-access-requests/a-guide-to-subject-access/)
- [NHS England Digital: Subject access requests, guidance for patients and service users](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/information-governance/guidance/subject-access-requests/guidance-for-patients-and-service-users)
- [NHS England: Millions more people given access to their GP records online](https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/12/millions-more-people-given-access-to-their-gp-records-online/)
- [NHS England: Offering patients digital access to GP health records](https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/offering-patients-digital-access-to-gp-health-records/)