Make your choice Choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning

Use this service to:

• choose if your confidential patient information is used for research and planning
• change or check your current choice

Your choice will be applied by:

• NHS Digital and Public Health England
• all other health and care organisations by 31 March 2021 (delayed from March 2020 to allow organisations to focus on the COVID-19 outbreak). Read more about the extension to the compliance deadline for national data opt-out.

Any choice you make will not impact your individual care.

Before you start

You must:

• be aged 13 or older
• have access to your email or mobile phone
• have your NHS number or your postcode registered with your GP surgery

Where can I find my NHS number?

An NHS number is a 10 digit number, like 485 777 3456.

You can find your NHS number by logging in to a GP online service or on any document sent to you by the NHS, such as your:

• prescriptions
• test results
• hospital referral letters
• appointment letters

Ask your GP surgery for help if you can't find your NHS number.

Start now

Other ways to make a choice

You can also make or change a choice for:

• yourself by post or phone
• someone else by post

Find out how to make a choice by post or phone.