Setting up proxy access
In most cases you will need to contact the GP surgery of the person who wants help, to ask for proxy access.
The GP surgery will make sure the person giving access understands and agrees to it, where needed.
You may both have to fill in a form and prove who you are using photo ID.
The GP surgery will then decide what access, if any, is appropriate, and make the changes in their clinical systems to set it up.
Adults who cannot understand and agree to proxy access
Proxy access for another adult is usually given based on them requesting it themselves, or understanding and agreeing to it. Adults aged 16 and over are assumed to be able to understand and consent to their own treatment. This is called having capacity.
If the person you want to help cannot understand or agree to you acting for them, for example because of a condition such as dementia, this is called lacking capacity.
The GP surgery may still be able to give you access. They will make a decision based on what is in the best interests of the person who needs help.
NHS trial to apply for proxy access online
Some GP surgeries are trialling a new NHS service which you can use to apply for proxy access online. Both you and the person you're applying about must be registered at the same GP surgery.
GP surgeries using this service
- Abbey Dale Medical Centre, Blackpool
- Ashburton Surgery, Ashburton, Newton Abbot
- Aspen Medical Practice, Gloucester
- Barrington Medical Centre, Altrincham
- Beacon Primary Care, Skelmersdale
- Bedworth Health Centre, Bedworth
- Birchwood Medical Practice, Lincoln
- Boundary House Medical Centre, Sale
- Bridge End Surgery, Chester-le-Street
- Burnham Medical Centre, Burnham-on-sea
- Bushloe Surgery, Wigston
- Castleton Health Centre, Castleton
- CH Medical Practice, Chadderton
- Chaddesley Surgery, Chaddesley Corbett
- Church Lane Medical Centre, Scunthorpe
- Clayhall Clinic, Ilford
- Clifton Court Medical Practice, Darlington
- Cranbrook Surgery, Ilford
- Craneswater Group Practice, Southsea
- De Montfort Surgery, Leicester
- Didsbury Medical Centre, Manchester
- Dishley Grange Medical Practice, Loughborough
- Favellplus Surgery, Northampton
- Fenland Group Practice, Manea, March
- Harborough Field Surgery, Rushden
- Hazelvalley Family Practice, Hazlingden
- Highfield Health, Southampton
- Highfields Surgery, Leicester
- Holmwood Corner Surgery, New Malden
- Hornchurch Healthcare, Hornchurch
- Husbands Bosworth Medical Centre, Husbands Bosworth
- Ibstock and Barlestone Surgeries, Ibstock
- Johnson Medical Practice, Leicester
- King's Medical Centre, Sutton-in-Ashfield
- Knowle House Surgery, Plymouth
- London Lane Clinic, Bromley
- Lynwood Medical Centre, Romford
- Lytham Road Surgery, Fulwood
- Market Harborough Medical Centre, Market Harborough
- Market Surgery, Wath-upon-Dearn
- Mayfield Medical Practice, Wolverhampton
- Monkfield Medical Practice, Great Cambourne
- Mytton Oak Surgery, Shrewsbury
- New Barn Close, Broadway
- Newham Medical Centre, Plaistow
- Northbrook Health Centre, Shirley
- Northwood Medical Centre, Kings Norton
- Nuffield Road Medical Centre, Cambridge
- Over Wyre Medical Centre, Preesall
- PHGH Doctors, Golders Green
- Queensway Medical Centre, Poulton-le-Fylde
- Ringmead Medical Practice, Bracknell
- Riverside Surgery, Evesham
- Roman Road Health Centre, Blackburn
- Sabden and Whalley Medical Centre, Clitheroe
- Salisbury Avenue Surgery, Barking
- Sayeed Medical Centre, Leicester
- Sefton Park Medical Centre, Liverpool
- Spring Gardens Group Medical Practice, Worcester
- St Georges Surgery, Cheltenham
- St. Bartholomew's Surgery, East Ham
- Station House Surgery, Kendal
- The Meadows Medical Practice, Clun
- The Willows Medical Centre, Leicester
- Thurleigh Road Practice, Balham
- Todmorden Group Practice, Todmorden
- Waterfoot Medical Practice, Waterfoot
- Wentworth Medical Practice, Finchley
- Wombwell Medical Centre, Wombwell
- Woodbrook Medical Centre, Loughborough
If you and the person you're applying about are both aged 16 or over, you can apply online using this service:
If you are a parent or someone with legal parental responsibility for a child aged under 16, find out more about parent and guardian proxy access and if you can apply online.
Using online GP services for someone else
If a GP surgery sets you up as a proxy for someone else, you can access services for them online.
If you are both registered at the same GP surgery, you can use Linked profiles in the NHS App or by logging in to the NHS website. Find out more about linked profiles.
If you are registered at different GP surgeries, the surgery setting up access will give you login information for an app or website you can use.