Using the NHS app
A guide for you and your carer
This page explains what the NHS app is and how it can help you. It also shows you how to download and use it. If you care for someone, it tells you how to link their account to yours. That way, you can help manage their care easily. This guide is for over 18’s in England who live with mental illness, or those who care for them.
What is the NHS app?
The NHS app gives you an easy and secure way to access a range of NHS services.
Through the app you can do things like:
- Order repeat prescriptions
- Book and manage appointments
- View your GP medical records
- Use NHS 111 online to answer questions and get advice
- Find NHS services or medical help near you
You can:
- Download the NHS app for free on your smartphone or tablet via Google play or App store, or
- Access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.
You can find out more about:
Can I use the app to help the person I care for?
If you are a carer for someone, you can apply to add them to your NHS app. You can then easily manage some things for that person.
Some carers have found this really useful and described it as a ‘gamechanger’. You can switch between yours and your loved one’s profiles as easy as switching between them on Netflix.
It is known as having a linked profile or proxy access. You can then do these types of things for the person you care for:
- book appointments for them,
- manage their repeat prescriptions, and
- view some or all their GP medical record.
To apply to add another person to your NHS app you must both be registered at the same GP surgery.
To add them to your app you can:
- contact your GP surgery, or
- in some areas you can apply on the app. From the app home screen see ‘Manage health services for others.’ There might be an option to apply on the app.
Your GP surgery will do some checks, before adding the person you care for to your NHS app.
You can read more here.
Did this help?
We would love to know if this information helped you or if you found any issues with this page. You can email us at feedback@rethink.org
Have you used AI to create this content?
Some content on this page has been created or edited using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. All this content has been manually reviewed and edited by a trained member of our Advice and Information team. This is to ensure accuracy and compliance with our information procedures.
© Rethink Mental Illness 2025
Published: October 2025
Next update: October 2028
Version number 1