Part of Proxy access: advice and guidance
Step 3b: Inform the patient about the opportunity of self-access
Proxy access must not get in the way of patients seeking care independently. Where relevant services are available, staff should always promote self-access as a viable route to accessing services.
Self-access is where a patient accesses their own digital services. This is preferred to proxy access because:
- people have a right to confidentiality in relation to their medical information, which should be respected
- there is always a risk that sensitive information is inadvertently revealed to a proxy, which can cause patient harm
- the resource burden for the NHS of providing proxy access services is higher than the cost associated with self-access
- people should be empowered to access services for themselves, if they can do so
This principle always applies, especially to those who are requesting proxy access as a preference rather than a strong need.
To support patients with this, you can rely on support staff in your organisation, for example digital facilitators in GP practices. Alternatively, you can signpost people to organisations like the Good Things Foundation, who help people get set up on services like the NHS App.
You should also remind them of the need to keep their credentials and account secure and not share them with anyone informally.
If the patient does not need proxy access once self-access is in place, you do not need to proceed any further with proxy access.
Last edited: 6 May 2026 4:35 pm