NHS login service

ID

S68

Version

2.0.0

Type

Standard

Status

Effective

Effective Date

Sep 13, 2022 

Contracting Vehicle(s)

 

Introduction

The NHS login Programme has developed a single, secure and easy-to-use system for verifying the identity of Citizens and Services requesting access to digital health records so that we can ensure people only access information about themselves and those in their care. Additional information can be found on the NHS login page on The Authority's website. 

The very first stage of this development was to support the NHS App which initially used existing IM1 interfaces to integrate with incumbent GP systems. To enable this, it was necessary that GP systems provided a simple API for retrieval and/or creation of the "Linkage Key" (also known as "Passphrase"). The second stage of this development is for GP Citizen Services Solutions to consume the NHS Login Service.

Future phases on the Roadmap (see below) will require GP Solutions to:

  • Provision local identities directly into NHS login.

Please note this initiative was previously known as Citizen Identity.

Requirements 

Applicable Suppliers

Requirement ID

Requirement Text

Level

Applicable Suppliers

Requirement ID

Requirement Text

Level

Foundation Solution Suppliers

NL01

GP Linkage Key

Suppliers to provide an interface that allows the creation and retrieval of Linkage information when presented with an NHS Number. The Linkage Key information will then be used for subsequent IM1 interactions.

MUST

Citizen Services Solution Suppliers

NL02

NHS Login Integration

Suppliers to implement and maintain the NHS login integration inline with the latest documentation and offer the "Continue with NHS login" button on the front of Service for new and returning users.

MUST

Documentation

GP Linkage Key

Part of this work involves the development of a new simple interface to retrieve and create Linkage Keys for users, whereby the NHS login platform is used to register and verify users via an online process. As part of this process, the NHS login platform will obtain an NHS number (with appropriate consent) and validate this against PDS and GP Practice Codes (i.e. ODS Codes). This approach will allow the NHS login platform to retrieve Linkage Keys for users and allow the platform to generate new Linkage Keys for users where they do not already have one. The latest requirements set can be accessed below:

Using NHS Login Integration 

Full details of how to integrate with NHS login and if you are eligible can be found on the Apply for NHS login - NHS Digital and NHS login Integration Toolkit 

Dependencies

There may be dependencies for implementing this Standard, however, there are no Interoperability Standards within the Capabilities and Standards model that are dependents.

Roadmap 

Items on the Roadmap which impact or relate to this Standard

Items on the Roadmap which impact or relate to this Standard