How to find my NHS number (2025)

How to find my NHS number? There are a few clear, official ways to find your NHS number using NHS letters, prescriptions, the NHS App, and an online service.

In this article, you will:

Know what an NHS number is and how it links to your records.
Use four quick methods to find your NHS number with real examples.
Handle cases for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and new arrivals.

What is an NHS number?

An NHS number is a unique 10-digit number used to identify you within the NHS in England, Wales, and the Isle of Man, so staff can match you to the correct health record across services.

It is created when you first register for NHS care (often at a GP).
Scotland uses a Community Health Index (CHI) number, and Northern Ireland uses a Health and Care Number; both are 10-digit identifiers that act as local equivalents in their systems.

It is not a National Insurance number or a hospital booking reference, and you do not need to know it to receive care.

How to find your NHS number: 4 quick methods

Here are 4 quick methods.

Method 1: Check NHS letters (hospital/clinic/GP)
Method 2: Check paper prescriptions
Method 3: Use the NHS App (England, GP-registered)
Method 4: Use the official “Find your NHS number” service (England only)

Method 1: Check your hospital and clinic letters

You should be able to find your NHS number on most letters or documents from the NHS, including prescriptions, test results, and hospital appointment letters.

Step 1: Gather recent NHS documents

Hospital appointment or referral letters.
Scan or test result letters.
Clinic follow-up or discharge summaries.
GP registration or “welcome” letters.

Step 2: Look in the right place

Check the top half of the first page, near the date or your address.

Example NHS hospital letter showing the NHS number near the patient details section

Find a line labelled “NHS number” or “NHS No.” next to a 10-digit number (often spaced as 123 456 7890).
Ignore lines labeled “Hospital No”, “Patient ID”, or “Booking reference”.

If you see more than one candidate:

Note the number that has the “NHS number” label.
If you are still unsure, ask your GP practice to confirm which number on your letter is recorded as your NHS number in their system.

Method 2: Check your paper prescriptions

NHS guidance and GP sites list prescriptions as another common place to find your NHS number, especially older paper prescriptions.

Step 1: Look for prescription paperwork

Green GP prescription forms (FP10).
Repeat prescription printouts.

Step 2: Read the patient block

Example NHS paper prescription showing the NHS number in the patient information area

Find the section with your name, address, and date of birth.
Look for a 10-digit number labelled “NHS number” or “NHS No”.
Do not copy pharmacy or dispensing references that do not have an “NHS” label.

Quick tip: If you find your NHS number, save it somewhere safe.

You can take a photo of the letter, or use an AI note-taking device like Plaud Note Pro to capture the number from what you’re looking at and store it as a quick note. This helps when you need to fill out forms later.

If nothing appears:

Assume your practice mainly uses electronic prescribing and move on to the NHS App or the “Find your NHS number” service.
Keep any prescription paperwork you do have, because it may still help when you speak to your GP practice.

Method 3: Use the NHS App (if you’re registered in England)

If you are registered with a GP in England and you are 13 or over, the NHS App or NHS online account can show your NHS number once your account is fully linked to your GP record.

Step 1: Set up or log into the NHS App

Download the NHS App or go to the NHS account in a browser.
Create or log in to your NHS login.
Complete identity checks (photo ID and video, or a linkage key from your GP if they use that method).

Step 2: Confirm you are linked to your GP

Check that the app shows your GP surgery in the account or settings area.
Make sure you can see some part of your record, such as prescriptions or appointments.

Step 3: Find the NHS number

On the home screen or in account/profile details, look for a 10-digit number labeled “NHS number”.
If it does not show, ask your GP to:

Confirm that your name, date of birth, and address in their system match your NHS login.
Update any differences so the app can link correctly.

Method 4: Use the official “Find your NHS number” online form (England only)

If you live in England, the official “Find your NHS number” service sends your NHS number to you by text, email, or letter after checking your details.

Step 1: Open the service

Screenshot of the NHS website page for the Find your NHS number service

Go to the “Find your NHS number” page on nhs.uk.
Select “Start now”.

Step 2: Enter your details

Example of the online Find your NHS number form asking for name, date of birth and postcode

Full name.
Date of birth.
Postcode of the address where you are registered with a GP surgery.

Step 3: Choose how to receive your number and follow up:

Select text, email, or letter.
If nothing arrives:

Check spam or junk folders if you chose email.
Wait up to 5 days for a letter, then contact your GP surgery if it has not arrived.
Ask the practice to update your address, mobile number, and email, then try the service again.

What can you do if these methods don’t work?

If you have worked through all four methods and still cannot identify the right number, the next steps depend on where you live and whether you have ever been registered for NHS care.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

In Scotland, you use a CHI number, and in Northern Ireland, you use a Health and Care Number, which are the local equivalents of an NHS number.

Collect recent NHS letters from your GP or hospital.

For Scotland: Look near the top of the letter for “CHI” or “Community Health Index” and a 10-digit number.
For Northern Ireland: Look for “Health and Care Number” on letters, prescriptions, or your medical card.

If you still cannot find it, contact your GP or local Health and Social Care (HSC) provider and ask them to confirm your CHI or Health and Care Number and where it normally appears.

If you’re new to the UK or have never registered with a GP

If you have never had NHS care or treatment in England, Wales, or the Isle of Man, you may not have an NHS number yet.

Find a local GP surgery that is accepting new patients.

Once registration is complete:

Watch for a confirmation letter or document, which may show your NHS number.
Set up the NHS App and check your NHS number in the app once it is linked.

For international students, follow your university’s guidance on registering with a recommended GP and ask the practice to confirm your NHS number after your record is created.

Before you contact your GP, write down what you have already tried (letters, prescriptions, the NHS App, and the online service). If you get stressed on the phone, you can use Plaud Note Pro, an AI note taker, to keep a clear note of what was said and what you need to do next.

If your number looks different or seems to have changed

Different documents can show different identifiers, so it may look as if your NHS number has changed when you are actually seeing hospital numbers, old formats, or local IDs.

On each document, find and note the labeled identifier:

“NHS number” or “NHS No.” in England and Wales.
“CHI” or “Community Health Index” in Scotland.
“Health and Care Number” in Northern Ireland.

Ignore numbers labeled “Hospital No”, “Patient ID”, or booking references.

If documents disagree:

Contact your GP surgery.
Ask them to confirm your current NHS number (or CHI / Health and Care Number) and to check that all your records are tied to that identifier.

If the NHS App never shows your number

If the NHS App never shows your NHS number, the account may not be fully verified or correctly linked to your GP record.

Confirm basic conditions:

You are registered with a GP in England.
You are using the official NHS App or NHS account.

Check your NHS login status: Complete the full identity verification (photo ID and video, or linkage key) if you have not already done so.
Compare personal details:

In the app, note your name, date of birth, and address.
Ask your GP practice to confirm they match exactly in their system and update any differences.

After updates:

Log out and back in.
If the NHS number still does not appear, ask the practice to check for any account-linking errors and, if needed, contact NHS App support.

FAQ

How do I get an NHS number?

You normally get an NHS number when you first register with a GP surgery or receive NHS care in England, Wales, or the Isle of Man.

Can I use the NHS if I am not a UK citizen?

You may still be able to register with a GP and use NHS services, depending on your immigration and residency status, and the practice can create or find your NHS number during registration.

Are NHS and NHS England the same?

No, the NHS is the wider health service across the UK, while NHS England is the organisation that plans and funds many services specifically in England.