NHS Digital

NHS England Digital is the national provider of digital health technology for the NHS in England. It delivers a comprehensive suite of REST and FHIR APIs covering patient demographic services, personal demographics, electronic prescriptions, summary care records, referrals and bookings, GP Connect, vaccination records, and national clinical data services. APIs are hosted on the NHS API platform at api.service.nhs.uk with sandbox and production environments, supporting OAuth 2.0 / private-key JWT, NHS CIS2 Care Identity, NHS login, and API-key authentication patterns.
15 APIs 0 Features
NHShealthFHIRUKpatient demographicsprescriptionsreferralsclinical datadigital healthgovernment
digital-onboarding
developer-community
Sources

name: NHS Digital
description: >-
  NHS England Digital is the national provider of digital health technology for
  the NHS in England. It delivers a comprehensive suite of REST and FHIR APIs
  covering patient demographic services, personal demographics, electronic
  prescriptions, summary care records, referrals and bookings, GP Connect,
  vaccination records, and national clinical data services. APIs are hosted on
  the NHS API platform at api.service.nhs.uk with sandbox and production
  environments, supporting OAuth 2.0 / private-key JWT, NHS CIS2 Care Identity,
  NHS login, and API-key authentication patterns.
image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
tags:
  - NHS
  - health
  - FHIR
  - UK
  - patient demographics
  - prescriptions
  - referrals
  - clinical data
  - digital health
  - government
url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer
baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk
contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    email: [email protected]
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
maintainers:
  - FN: NHS England Digital
    email: [email protected]
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer
specificationVersion: "0.19"
apis:
  - name: Personal Demographics Service - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Access the national NHS patient demographic database. Supports search,
      retrieval, and update of patient records including names, addresses, dates
      of birth, registered GPs, nominated pharmacies, and NHS numbers. Offers
      application-restricted, healthcare-worker, and patient access tiers.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
    tags:
      - demographics
      - patients
      - FHIR
      - NHS number
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/personal-demographics-service-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
      - type: access-tiers
        value: application-restricted, healthcare-worker, patient

  - name: Electronic Prescription Service - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Transmit electronic prescriptions between prescribers and community
      dispensers. Prescribers can create, encode, and cancel prescriptions;
      dispensers can download prescriptions, manage dispense notifications, and
      submit claims to the NHS Business Services Authority.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/electronic-prescription-service-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/electronic-prescriptions
    tags:
      - prescriptions
      - medications
      - FHIR
      - pharmacy
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/electronic-prescription-service-fhir
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/electronic-prescription-service-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/electronic-prescriptions

  - name: Summary Care Record - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Access a patient's Summary Care Record (SCR), a national electronic record
      of key clinical information derived from GP records. Also provides access
      to the Access Control Service (ACS) for managing patient consent to share
      SCR data.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/summary-care-record-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/summary-care-records
    tags:
      - clinical records
      - summary care record
      - FHIR
      - GP records
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/summary-care-record-fhir
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/summary-care-records

  - name: National Record Locator - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Locate and access patient information shared by other NHS healthcare
      organisations to support direct patient care. Supports both producer and
      consumer roles, enabling providers to publish record pointers and consumers
      to search by patient, information type, provider, or record ID.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/national-record-locator-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/record-locator
    tags:
      - records
      - FHIR
      - interoperability
      - clinical data
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/national-record-locator-fhir
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/national-record-locator-consumer-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/record-locator

  - name: Booking and Referral - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Send booking and referral information between NHS service providers
      following the NHS Booking and Referral Standard (BaRS). Enables
      interoperable bookings and referrals across urgent and emergency care,
      primary care, and other NHS settings.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/booking-and-referral-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/booking-and-referral
    tags:
      - referrals
      - bookings
      - FHIR
      - urgent care
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/booking-and-referral-fhir
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/booking-and-referral-fhir-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/booking-and-referral

  - name: GP Connect Appointment Management - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Manage appointments across GP practices. Enables third-party systems to
      search for available slots, book appointments, amend or cancel bookings,
      and retrieve appointment details via a FHIR STU3 API hosted by GP
      practice systems.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/gp-connect-appointment-management-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/gp-connect
    tags:
      - GP
      - appointments
      - FHIR
      - primary care
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/gp-connect-appointment-management-fhir
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support

  - name: e-Referral Service - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Interact with the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS), the national paperless
      referral system for primary and secondary care. Supports creating and
      managing referrals, retrieving available service slots, and processing
      referral responses.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/e-referral-service-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/referrals
    tags:
      - referrals
      - FHIR
      - secondary care
      - e-RS
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/e-referral-service-fhir
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/e-referrals-service-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/referrals

  - name: Immunisation History - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Retrieve a patient's immunisation history recorded in NHS national systems.
      Supports clinical decision-making, care continuity, and patient-facing
      applications by providing structured vaccination records compliant with
      FHIR R4.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/immunisation-history-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/immunisation-history
    tags:
      - immunisation
      - vaccination
      - FHIR
      - clinical data
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/immunisation-history-fhir
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/immunisation-history

  - name: NHS App API
    description: >-
      Engage with users of the NHS App, enabling healthcare organisations and
      suppliers to send in-app messages, manage notifications, and trigger
      communications to patients who have the NHS App installed on their device.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-app
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-app
    tags:
      - NHS App
      - notifications
      - patient communications
      - FHIR
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-app
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/nhs-app-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-app

  - name: Directory of Healthcare Services (Service Search) API
    description: >-
      Search for NHS healthcare services across England including GPs, dentists,
      opticians, hospitals, pharmacies, and other care settings. Returns
      structured service information, location data, opening hours, and referral
      pathways.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/directory-of-healthcare-services
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/service-search
    tags:
      - directory
      - healthcare services
      - search
      - REST
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/directory-of-healthcare-services
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/service-search

  - name: NHS Login API
    description: >-
      Authenticate patients and members of the public using NHS login, the
      national identity service for patient-facing digital health services in
      England. Implements OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0 supporting P5, P9, and
      P10 identity proofing levels.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-login
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/oauth2
    tags:
      - authentication
      - identity
      - OAuth 2.0
      - OpenID Connect
      - patients
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-login
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/identity-service-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/oauth2

  - name: Spine Directory Service - FHIR API
    description: >-
      Query the Spine Directory Service (SDS) to look up endpoint information,
      organisation codes, and service metadata for NHS organisations and systems
      registered on the NHS Spine. Supports routing decisions for Spine
      messaging and integration.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/spine-directory-service-fhir
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/spine-directory
    tags:
      - Spine
      - directory
      - FHIR
      - organisations
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/spine-directory-service-fhir
      - type: github
        url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/spine-directory-service-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/spine-directory

  - name: Health Research Data Catalogue API
    description: >-
      Retrieve metadata about NHS health datasets suitable for publication in
      health research catalogues. Enables researchers and data controllers to
      discover available NHS datasets, their coverage, data custodians, and
      access conditions.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/health-research-data-catalogue
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/health-research-data-catalogue
    tags:
      - research
      - datasets
      - metadata
      - REST
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/health-research-data-catalogue
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support

  - name: NHS Website Content API
    description: >-
      Pull content from the NHS.UK website about health conditions, medications,
      live well guidance, mental health, care and support, and the NHS system.
      Returns structured JSON content suitable for integration into third-party
      digital health services.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-website-content/v2
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-website-content
    tags:
      - content
      - health information
      - REST
      - NHS website
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-website-content/v2
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-website-content

  - name: Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH) API
    description: >-
      Exchange messages and data files between NHS organisations using MESH, the
      national messaging infrastructure. Supports sending and receiving
      structured clinical messages, bulk data transfers, and real-time event
      notifications between Spine-connected systems.
    image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
    humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/message-exchange-for-social-care-and-health-api
    baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/mesh-mailbox
    tags:
      - messaging
      - MESH
      - interoperability
      - data exchange
    properties:
      - type: documentation
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/message-exchange-for-social-care-and-health-api
    contact:
      - FN: NHS England Developer Support
        url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
    meta:
      - type: environment-sandbox
        value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/mesh-mailbox

common:
  - type: plans
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue
  - type: rate-limits
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation
  - type: authentication
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation/security-and-authorisation
  - type: onboarding
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation/onboarding-process
  - type: digital-onboarding
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation/digital-onboarding
  - type: sandbox
    url: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk
  - type: developer-portal
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer
  - type: api-catalogue
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue
  - type: help
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  - type: developer-community
    url: https://developer.community.nhs.uk
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital
  - type: terms-of-use
    url: https://onboarding.prod.api.platform.nhs.uk/PolicyPages/TermsOfUsePolicy
  - type: api-platform
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/api-platform
modified: '2026-06-13'
NHS Digital

APIs

Personal Demographics Service - FHIR API

Electronic Prescription Service - FHIR API

Summary Care Record - FHIR API

National Record Locator - FHIR API

Booking and Referral - FHIR API

GP Connect Appointment Management - FHIR API

e-Referral Service - FHIR API

Immunisation History - FHIR API

NHS App API

Directory of Healthcare Services (Service Search) API

NHS Login API

Spine Directory Service - FHIR API

Health Research Data Catalogue API

NHS Website Content API

Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH) API

Semantic Vocabularies

Apis Context

Resources

Sources
