Part of Proxy access: advice and guidance
Step 1: Determine if proxy access is appropriate, that is, if the benefits outweigh the risks
First, clinical professionals and staff should understand the reason for requesting access and the proxy’s role in assisting the patient with their health, care, and support needs.
Proxy access is necessary for people who:
- currently rely on someone else to access health and care services at an organisation. For example, parents managing their child’s health.
- do not access digital services for themselves because of an obstacle such as their digital literacy, complex needs, or lack of Gillick competence or mental capacity
- have health and care needs which are not successfully met by supported self-access, but are likely to be met through proxy access
Staff can use this information to help them determine the extent to which access is necessary and relevant and what they should do next.
Patient aged 0-10
Does the patient need to rely on others to access digital services?
Usually
Are digital services available for the patient to access independently?
Not usually
Is the patient's informed consent likely to be a relevant basis for proxy access?
Not usually
Patient aged 11-15
Does the patient need to rely on others to access digital services?
Often, but not always. Assess their care and support needs in line with their evolving maturity.
Are digital services available for the patient to access independently?
When a patient reaches age 13, more digital services like the NHS App are available for them to access independently.
Very few digital services are capable of being accessed independently by children under the age of 13.
Is the patient's informed consent likely to be a relevant basis for proxy access?
Always consider in line with the young person’s evolving maturity.
Patient aged 16 or over
Does the patient need to rely on others to access digital services?
Not necessarily. Assess their care and support needs.
Are digital services available for the patient to access independently?
Yes
Is the patient's informed consent likely to be a relevant basis for proxy access?
Usually. Consider on a case-by-case basis.
Last edited: 6 May 2026 4:34 pm