Important

There's no deadline for opting out of sharing your confidential patient information for research and planning. You can make or change your choice at any time.

Make your choice online

Use this service to:

choose if your confidential patient information is used for research and planning
change or check your current choice

Your choice will be applied by all health and care organisations.

Any choice you make will not impact your individual care.

Before you start

You must:

be aged 13 or older
have access to your email or mobile phone
have your NHS number or your postcode registered with your GP surgery

Where can I find my NHS number?

An NHS number is a 10-digit number, like 485 777 3456.

You can find your NHS number by logging in to a GP online service or on any document sent to you by the NHS, such as your:

prescriptions
test results
hospital referral letters
appointment letters

Ask your GP surgery for help if you cannot find your NHS number.

Start now

Other ways to make a choice

You can also make or change a choice for:

yourself by phone, email or post
someone else (either a child under 13 or someone you can legally make decisions for) by email or post

Make or change a choice for yourself or a child under 13

You can make or change a choice for yourself by downloading and completing this form and emailing or posting it to the Contact Centre:

Make and manage your choice or your child's choice (PDF, 159kb)

If you're a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 13, you can also use this form to make and manage a choice on their behalf.

Email: enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk

Postal address:

National Data Opt Out Contact Centre
NHS England
Freepost
PO Box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT

You can also make or change a choice for yourself by phoning the NHS Digital Contact Centre.

The phone number is 0300 303 5678 – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

A member of staff can:

help you use the online service
make or change a choice on your behalf
print and post a form to you

Make or change a choice on behalf of another adult

To make and manage a choice on behalf of someone else, you must be one of the following to the person:

health and welfare lasting power of attorney
property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney
Court of Protection deputy

Download and complete this form and email or post it to the Contact Centre:

Make and manage a choice for someone else (PDF,182kb)