Proxy Access

 

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Giving another person access to your GP online services

You can choose to give another person access to your GP online services on your behalf.  You don’t need to know how to use these services or have a computer yourself to give another person access.

 

Who can have access?

You choose who you want to give access to. This could be your carer, partner, parent or another family member. You can also give access to more than one person. Giving access to another person is your choice. No-one can go to your GP surgery and ask for access to your online services without your permission.

You also choose which online services you want each person to use. These are booking appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions and looking at your GP record. You decide which services they can use on your behalf.

 

Why you may want to give another person access

There are a variety of reasons you may with to allow another person to use your GP Online Services. These can include but are not limited to: 

  • You are very unwell or just need help managing your health
  • You have a long term condition ,for example diabetes, heart disease, asthma or high blood pressure and would like support with checking test results, ordering repeat prescriptions and understanding your treatment
  • You are finding it more difficult to look after yourself, for example due to memory issues or speech difficulties
  • You have learning difficulties and want someone else to help you understand your health
  • You have a carer who can help you manage your health 
  • You may be planning for the future or choosing someone to hold lasting power of attorney for health and social care for you
  • You are a young person and would like your parent or guardian to look after your health. 
  • You work away from home or are just busy and need help with booking appointments or ordering repeat prescriptions.
  • You are not comfortable with using computers, smart phones, or tablets 

For more information on GP online services for carers, see our leaflets ‘GP online services for carers including young carers’ and ‘Giving employed carers access to your GP online services’. These can be found at Getting started with GP online services.

 

How to Sign Up 

The safest way to give another person access to your online services is for them to have their own username and password. If you use online services yourself, you should not share your username and password with anyone. The practice will grant this once the sign-up process has been completed. If you share your username and password, your surgery cannot tell whether you or someone else accessed your online services. This may be a problem if someone else misuses your login details and your surgery has to look into this.

The steps below show how you can give another person access:

  1. Contact your surgery to let them know you would like to give your chosen person access to your GP online services. You will need to register for online services for yourself first if you do not have access, which the practice can help you do. 
  2. The Practice will give your chosen person a short form to fill in. This can be sent via post, email, or filled out in the surgery. You will also need to sign to confirm you agree with the information on the form and choose what services you would like your chosen person to have access to. 
  3. Your chosen person will need to show your surgery their photo ID and proof of address, for example, a passport or photo driving licence and a bank statement or council tax statement. If they don’t have the required ID, speak to staff at the surgery, who may be able to help confirm their identity in another way.
  4. A clinician at the Practice will make a decision on whether to give your chosen person access to your GP online services. If we decide not to give them access, we will discuss their reasons with you
  5. Once approved, the staff will give your chosen person their own username and password to use to login to your GP online services.

You have the right to have your chosen person’s access to your GP Online Services withdrawn at any time. To end the service, you need to let your surgery know you would like them to switch off online access for your chosen person and give them the reason.Your surgery will then stop the service and your chosen person will not be able to use their login details to look at your information.

 

Why your surgery may choose to deny or withdraw access

On rare occasions, your GP could refuse to allow your chosen person to use GP online services on your behalf. If this happens, your GP will discuss their reasons with you. Some of the reasons your GP could have are:

  • Your GP does not think it is in your best interest for your chosen person to use these services on your behalf
  • You or your chosen people have misused online services in the past
  • The Practice is concerned that your chosen person will not keep your information safe 
  • The Practice suspects someone is forcing you to give them permission to use your online services
  • You are not able to make decisions for yourself.

There are rare occasions when your GP may decide to revoke your chosen person’s access to your GP Online Services. Some of the reasons could be: 

  • We believe your chosen person is forcing you to share your GP records with them or with another person.
  • Your chosen person has misused your GP information
  • You are no longer able to understand or remember that you gave your chosen person permission to use online services on your behalf
  • You have told the Practice in the past that if you become unable to make decisions for yourself, you do not wish for your chosen person or anyone to have permission to your online services
 

Other information 

For additional information, or if you would like discuss Proxy Access with the practice, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.