Online Services

Prospective access means you can usually see new information added to your GP record going forward.

For Compass House patients, this usually applies from 18 October 2023, or from the date you registered with the practice if this was later.

The easiest way to do this is to create an NHS login through the NHS App. During registration, you will be asked to confirm your identity before you can access your GP health record. This is to help keep your record secure.

If you do not have photo ID, or if your NHS login identity check is unsuccessful, we can verify your identity at the surgery. In this situation, please follow the Online Services process below.

Access and Security

• Changes to contact information – If your address, email address or phone number changes, this could affect access to the NHS App or Patient Access. Please notify the surgery of any changes to your contact details. If you still have access to your Online Services account, you may need to update your contact details directly within the NHS App or Patient Access, as some details do not automatically update from our clinical system.
• Security concerns – If you believe your online account has been compromised, please contact the surgery immediately so we can deactivate your online access.
• Sharing your information – You may choose to share your medical information with others, such as family members or carers. It is your responsibility, and the responsibility of anyone you choose to share it with, to keep your information secure and confidential.
• Access – Your Online Services or Proxy Access will usually remain active until you tell us you no longer need it, unless access needs to be changed or ended, for example due to age-related access changes or if you leave the practice.
• Pressure to share – If you believe you may be pressured or coerced into sharing your medical information against your wishes, we recommend that you do not register for online access at this time and contact the practice if you need support or further advice.
• Information about someone else – If you notice any information in the record that does not relate to you, or spot any errors, please log out immediately and contact the surgery as soon as possible.

Understanding Your Medical Record

• Misunderstood information – Medical records are often written using technical language by healthcare professionals for clinical purposes. If you see anything you do not understand, please contact the surgery for clarification.
• Forgotten information – You may come across information in your record that you had forgotten and could find distressing.
• Abnormal results – If you are granted access to test results or letters, you may see information that could be upsetting, particularly if this is viewed before you have had the opportunity to discuss it with your doctor or when the surgery is closed.

Identification Required

Please bring your identification documents to the practice in person, together with your completed form, so we can verify your identity.

For security reasons, we are unable to accept copies of photo IDs or IDs sent by email.

Accepted photo IDs

We can accept the following:

• Driving licence — must be valid and show your current address
• Provisional driving licence — must be valid and show your current address
• Passport — must be valid, and must be accompanied by proof of address

Accepted proof of address:

• bank statement
• council tax bill
• utility bill

Please ensure proof of address documents are recent.

If you do not have photo ID, please provide two official documents from the list above. 

Access to your medical records may be granted at the discretion of the practice, upon request.

Once a request has been made, the practice will aim to fulfil it within 28 days.

There may be instances where this is deemed not to be in the patient’s best interests, and you or the representative will be informed accordingly.

Patient and representative responsibility

When accessing medical records online, patients are responsible for keeping their login details and personal information secure.

If a parent, guardian or appointed representative accesses records on behalf of someone else, they are responsible for keeping that information safe and secure.

As part of proxy access, information about your allergies and current medication will be shared by default. This cannot be removed from access, as an important safety measure built into NHS systems in line with clinical safety requirements.

If you would prefer not to share this information with your representative, proxy access may not be the right option for you.

To arrange this, please complete the Proxy Access Form (please see the forms section below) and return it to Compass House during opening hours, together with the relevant forms of ID and proof of address.

• King Street, Brixham or
• 2 Langdon Lane, Galmpton

If you are unable to attend in person due to a health condition, please contact the surgery to advise us if someone will be attending on your behalf.

The person you designate as your representative must have an active NHS App or Patient Access account so your Proxy Access can be linked to their account.

Please note that NHS App linked profiles are only available where both patients are registered at the same GP surgery.

If your representative is registered at a different GP surgery, proxy access may still be possible, but this is usually managed through Patient Access or another online services account rather than through linked profiles in the NHS App.

We will need the email address they use for their online services account to help set this up.

Parent/Guardian Requirements*:

• Parent / guardian will need to complete the Proxy Access Form on behalf of the patient
• The parent / guardian must provide their own valid ID and the child’s birth certificate.
• The birth certificate must show the parent or guardian’s name.

• The child’s signed consent is required by completing the Proxy Access Form
• Proof of identity for both the child and parent or guardian is required
• A GP or appropriate healthcare professional must assess whether the child has sufficient understanding and capacity (Gillick competence)
• If the child is not considered Gillick competent, access requests will follow the process for children under 11 years old (see above)

Please bring Photo ID with your completed form.

If no photo ID available, please provide two legal documents ie. Bank Statement / Council Tax statement / Utility Bill, with your name and address.

Access is granted at the discretion of the practice, taking into account parental responsibility, competency and confidentiality considerations.

Parental or guardian proxy access will automatically stop or be restricted when a child reaches age 11, and will usually end when they reach age 16.

This is to protect the young person’s confidentiality, in line with NHS guidance. If continued access is needed, a new Proxy Access Form should be submitted.