Written by Technical Team | Last updated 09.09.2025 | 4 minute read
This NHS API guide lists popular NHS APIs (as of September 2025), use cases, and other information for digital health innovators exploring NHS API integrations.
Please bear in mind:
| API | Description | Implementation | Access Route | Time (Technical Implementation) | Time (NHSE Assurance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BaRS (Booking & Referral Standard) | Enables electronic booking and referral between providers, supporting FHIR interoperability and replacing legacy referral messaging. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 3-6 months | 4-8 months |
| Directory of Healthcare Services (DoS) | National directory for NHS 111 and digital apps to locate available healthcare services in real time. | RESTful API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 2-4 months |
| Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) | Transmits prescriptions digitally from GP or prescriber to dispenser, reducing paper handling and enabling repeat prescription automation. | FHIR & HL7 v3 | HSCN / Internet | 3-6 months | 4-8 months |
| e-Referral Service (eRS) | Supports electronic referrals from GPs to secondary care, including appointment booking, referral tracking and advice requests. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 3-6 months | 4-8 months |
| GP Connect – Access Record | Provides authorised clinicians with read-only access to patient records including problems, allergies, medications, observations, referrals, and encounters. | FHIR via SSP (not RESTful) | HSCN | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| GP Connect – Appointment Management | Allows external booking and management of GP appointments, enabling slots to be shared with NHS 111 and other services.
Note – this API has been unavailable from June 2025 onwards. |
FHIR via SSP | HSCN | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| GP Connect – Send Document | Enables transfer of structured documents (e.g., PDFs) from authorised clinicians in different care settings to GP practices into the patient’s record. | FHIR over MESH | HSCN | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| IM1 – Bulk | Supplies scheduled extracts of practice-level patient data for reporting or analysis; not suitable for patient facing services or for direct care as data may be 24 hours old. | EMIS/TPP REST; Vision SOAP | HSCN / Internet | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| IM1 – Patient | Suitable for patient facing services only – patients can access their GP record, medications and appointments through third-party apps using NHS Login or linkage codes. | EMIS/TPP REST; Vision SOAP | HSCN / Internet | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| IM1 – Transaction | Provides authorised clinicians and clinical systems with secure write/read access to GP patient records for prescribing, allergies and consultations within the practice. | EMIS REST; TPP SOAP; Vision SOAP | GP practice integration (TPP)
HSCN / Internet (EMIS) |
2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| MESH | Message Exchange for Social Care and Health transfers large files securely between NHS organisations, underpinning many national flows. | RESTful API | Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| NHS App API | Provides integration with the NHS App, offering login, authentication, appointments, prescription ordering and health data sharing capabilities. | RESTful API / OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect | HSCN / Internet | 3-6 months | 4-8 months |
| Organisation Data Service (ODS) | Supplies unique organisation codes and relationships, used for system integration, reporting and service directory lookups. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Patient Care Aggregator (Wayfinder) | Aggregates elective care referral and booking data for patients, enabling visibility of referral status via NHS App. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 3-6 months | 4-8 months |
| Patient Care Aggregator – Record Service | Provides patient record matching across multiple sources to support aggregation of referral and elective care data. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 3-6 months | 4-8 months |
| PDS FHIR (App-restricted) | Returns demographics for a single patient using NHS number; restricted data access with strict application authorisation. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| PDS FHIR (Health Worker Access) | Enables staff to search, retrieve and update demographics including NHS number, names and addresses with wildcard search options. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| PDS FHIR (Patient Access) | Lets authenticated patients view and update their own demographics, including contact details, via NHS Login. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| SCR FHIR | Allows clinicians with strong authentication to view or update a patient’s Summary Care Record, supporting safer care. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 4-8 months |
| Spine Directory Service (SDS) | Provides lookup of NHS systems, services and end points used in national messaging and routing. | FHIR / LDAP API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Terminology Server – FHIR | Supplies SNOMED CT and other reference data for consistent coding and interoperability across systems. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Transfer of Care – FHIR / MESH | Sends structured discharge summaries (inpatient, emergency, mental health) from secondary to primary care providers. | FHIR / MESH APIs | HSCN / Internet | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
| Vaccination Events – FHIR | Provides immunisation event data for patient records, supporting clinical care and national vaccination programmes. | FHIR API | HSCN / Internet | 2-4 months | 4-8 months |
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