Patient Proxy Access

Proxy Access Patient Information Leaflet

Did you know that you can choose to give another person access to your GP online services
on your behalf?

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.

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.

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 manage health services for
others in the NHS App or by logging in to the NHS website.
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.

How to get parent and guardian proxy access

If you care for a child aged under 16, and you have legal parental responsibility for them,
you can usually get proxy access by asking the GP surgery to set this up. You may need to fill
in a form.

Before giving you access, the GP surgery may need to check:

ID for you and the child, for example passports
documents that help to prove you have parental responsibility, for example a birth
certificate
with anyone else that shares parental responsibility with you
for safeguarding issues
that the child consents to your access (agrees to it) or lacks capacity to consent, if
they are aged 11 or over
You do not have to live at the same address as the child to have access.
You can have proxy access for more than 1 child, and a child can have more than 1 proxy
acting on their behalf.

Children's rights, capacity and consent

Children have the same legal rights over their data as adults. The GP surgery must get the
child's consent before giving access to their online GP services, if the child is able to
understand and make an informed decision. This is called having capacity.
Children aged 11 or over are usually considered to have the capacity to consent, or refuse
access, unless for example they have a medical condition or learning disability that affects
their understanding.

Setting up proxy access

In most cases you will need to contact the Ashley Centre surgery or go onto our
website and look under policys.
Read this leaflet carefully.
Complete the application form attached.
You may both have to fill in a form and prove who you are, using 2 forms of
photographic 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.
For more information, please visit the NHS website or the below link
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/gp-services-for-someone-else-proxy-access/what-is-proxy
access/

Thank you

If you would like to apply for Proxy Access, please either

Print the attachment and return to the clinic
Come to the Surgery and ask reception for a proxy form