GP practices that are looking to strengthen support for carers and improve access to digital services may be interested in a recently recorded webinar from the NHS App team on proxy access (also known as Manage Health Services for Others).
Proxy access enables individuals to securely access and manage healthcare services on behalf of someone they care for, such as an older relative, a child, or a patient with additional support needs. Through the NHS App, authorised carers can help manage appointments, view health information and support ongoing care in a safe and controlled way.
During the webinar, the NHS App team:
- Provided an overview of proxy access in the NHS App
- Shared updates on current developments and future plans
- Presented insights from recent user research and engagement activity
- Heard from a GP practice about its experience of implementing proxy access
- Answered questions from practices during a live Q&A session
Why proxy access matters
Supporting carers is a key part of delivering high-quality, person-centred care. By enabling appropriate proxy access, practices can help carers play a more active role in supporting patients while maintaining safe and controlled access to health information and services.
There are benefits for patients, carers and practices alike. Carers can access the information they need to support the people they care for, patients receive more coordinated support, and practices may see fewer administrative barriers when family members are helping to manage care.
Practices may also wish to consider proxy access as part of a wider quality improvement project. Promoting and increasing the uptake of proxy access can provide evidence of how the practice is identifying, supporting and working with carers, while making effective use of digital tools to improve patient access and experience.
Watch the recording
The webinar recording and supporting materials are now available on NHS Futures for practices that would like to learn more about implementing and promoting proxy access.