Find out about proxy access

A GP surgery can give someone proxy access so they can help another person manage their GP health and care.

A proxy may be able to act for the person they support, by:

• ordering repeat prescriptions

• booking appointments

• contacting the surgery or speaking to surgery staff

• viewing test results or vaccinations

• accessing all or part of the GP health record, to help with health-related tasks and managing health issues

Reasons for proxy access

Reasons for wanting or needing help could include:

• having a physical or mental health condition

• technical barriers, for example not having a computer or a smartphone

• language barriers, for example if it's not easy to access services in English

• practical reasons, for example working shifts or unsocial hours

• age, for example a child may need a parent to manage their GP services

If you're aged 16 or over, you can ask for someone to be your proxy for any reason. It does not stop you having access to your GP services yourself.

If you help someone else with prescriptions, booking appointments or managing their health and care, getting proxy access could make it easier and more convenient.

 Before your GP can authorise a proxy user and provide them with login credentials they must;

1. Verify the identity - of the patient who is giving consent to proxy access and the third-party who is seeking proxy access 

2. Confirm that the patient has given informed consent - or if the patient is not able to consent that there is another legal justification for providing proxy access

3. Establish the level of access that the patient would like the proxy to have

4. Seek assurance that the patient is not being coerced to agree to proxy access unwillingly (Proxy access will be withheld until all suspicions are investigated and an outcome has been resolved)

5. Make sure a full completed proxy access consent form has been provided by the patient 

6. Obtain authorisation from the GP to the proxy to have access to the record

7. A clear understanding from the proxy on how they should maintain the privacy & security surrounding the patients records and how best any concerns they have regarding the records should be raised

8. Check with the patient that their records contains no potentially harmful information or any thrid patry information that they do not wish the proxy to see

9. The identity of the practice team members who have authorised accessed, the level of access given, the legal justification for proxy access & the completed consent form should all be included in the patients record 

How to get proxy access - NHS