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Text and online services - Ashcroft Surgery, Bradford
Our services

Text and online services

Order repeat prescriptions, see your test results, check your health record and contact us - all from your phone or computer, at any time of day. No waiting on hold.

Why go online?

Save time. Skip the phone queue.

Our phone lines are busiest first thing in the morning. Most of the things people ring us about can be done online in a couple of minutes instead - whenever suits you, even at 3am.

Open 24 hours a day

Order your medication or check your record at any time - evenings, weekends and bank holidays included.

Fewer mistakes with medicines

When you order repeats online, you tick your exact medicines from a list. It is safer and clearer than a phone message.

See your own record

Check your test results, medicines, allergies and vaccinations. Understanding your health helps you manage it.

Works anywhere in the world

If you need treatment while away or on holiday, you can show a clinician your medicines and medical history.

Free text reminders

We can text you before your appointment so you never forget it. That helps you, and it frees up appointments for others.

Still your choice

Online services are optional. You can always phone us or come in instead. Nothing is taken away from you.

Getting started

Three ways to manage your care online

They all connect safely to our medical system. Most patients start with the NHS App - it is the easiest to set up because you do not need to visit the surgery.

Easiest to set up

NHS App

The free, official NHS app for your phone or tablet. You can also use it in a web browser.

  • Order repeat prescriptions
  • View your GP health record
  • See some test results, where available
  • Prove your identity from home - no need to visit us

You must be aged 13 or over and registered with a GP surgery in England.

Get the NHS App (opens the NHS website)

SystmOnline

Our medical system's own website and app. It does similar things to the NHS App and some patients prefer it.

  • Order repeat prescriptions
  • Book or cancel some appointments, where available
  • View parts of your medical record

To sign up, ask at reception. We will check your ID and give you login details the same day.

Log in to SystmOnline (opens the SystmOnline website)

PATCHS

Use PATCHS to contact us about a medical problem or an admin request, like a sick note. Tell us what is wrong in your own words and we will direct it to the right person.

  • Ask about a new or ongoing problem
  • Request sick notes and letters
  • Ask about test results or medication

You get advice or treatment by the end of the working week - often sooner.

Go to PATCHS

Online services are not for emergencies

Do not use PATCHS, the NHS App or SystmOnline for urgent medical problems. If you need help today, call us before 10am or use NHS 111 online. If it is life-threatening - such as chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing trouble or heavy bleeding - call 999 now.

Which one does what?

What you want to do NHS App SystmOnline PATCHS
Order a repeat prescription Yes Yes Queries only
See your GP health record Yes Yes No
See test results, where available Yes Yes Ask about them
Ask us about a medical problem No No Yes
Request a sick note or letter No No Yes
Set up without visiting the surgery Yes No - bring ID to reception Yes
Step by step

How to sign up

NHS App - sign up from home

  1. Download the free app

    Get it from the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android). Or use it in a web browser at nhs.uk/nhs-app.

  2. Create an NHS login

    You need an email address and a mobile phone number. The app guides you through it.

  3. Prove who you are

    The app asks you to confirm your identity, usually with photo ID or by answering security questions. This keeps your record safe. It only takes a few minutes.

  4. Start using it

    That is it. You can now order prescriptions and view your record. Not sure of your NHS number? Find it on the NHS website - although you do not usually need it.

SystmOnline and text reminders - sign up at reception

  1. Fill in our short registration form

    Download the registration form for online and text services, or ask for a copy at reception.

  2. Bring the form and photo ID to reception

    For example a passport or driving licence. Checking your ID makes sure nobody else can get access to your record.

  3. We give you your login details

    Choose a password that only you know. This keeps your record private to you, unless you choose to share it with a family member or carer.

  4. Add your mobile number for text reminders

    Use the same form to sign up for free appointment reminders by text. If you change your phone number, please tell us straight away.

Need a hand getting started? See our help with setting up online services, or ask at reception - we are happy to help, and being new to technology is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Acting for someone else

Family members and carers

If you look after someone - a child, a parent, or someone you care for - you can ask us for your own login to act on their behalf. This is called proxy access.

Depending on what is agreed, you may be able to order their prescriptions, manage appointments, or see parts of their record to help with their care. The patient chooses what access to give, where they are able to decide for themselves.

To set this up, speak to our reception team on 01274 612 279 or ask at the front desk. We will explain what is possible and what we need from you.

Worth knowing

A few things to think about before you sign up

Seeing your own record is helpful for most people. But it is worth understanding these points first, so nothing takes you by surprise.

You might see results before we have spoken to you

Sometimes a test result or hospital letter appears in your record before a doctor has had the chance to talk it through with you. If you see something that worries you, please contact us as soon as we are open - do not sit and worry alone.

Remember: an "abnormal" result does not always mean something is seriously wrong. Many results are slightly outside the normal range and need no action at all.

If needed, we can hide certain results from online view until we have discussed them with you.

Some medical language can be hard to understand

Your record is written by health professionals, for health professionals, so parts of it may look technical. If anything is unclear, contact us and we will happily explain it in plain English. Please do not guess what something means or search for it in a panic.

You may find things you had forgotten about

Your record covers your whole medical history. There may be something from the past that you find upsetting to see again. If reading your record affects you, please talk to us.

Only sign up if you can keep your record private

If you think someone might pressure you into showing them your record against your will, it is safer not to sign up for now. You can still use all our services by phone or in person, and you can sign up later when things change.

You can also ask us to switch off online access at any time - no questions asked.

If you spot something wrong in your record

If you see information that is not about you, or you notice a mistake, please log out straight away and contact the practice as soon as possible so we can put it right.

We can remove online access if we need to

Very rarely, we may switch off someone's online access - for example, if there is evidence that access is being misused or could cause harm. We would always explain why, and we would restore access as soon as we safely can.

Security

Keeping your account and phone safe

Your login

  • Keep your password secret. Never share it unless you choose to let a family member or carer help you.
  • Change your password straight away if you think someone else has seen your record. If you cannot, contact us and we will pause access until you can reset it.
  • On a shared or public computer, always log out, close the browser and switch off when you finish.
  • If you print anything from your record, keep it somewhere safe - or better still, avoid printing at all.

Your phone and texts

  • Text reminders may pop up on your screen where others can see them, so keep your phone with you and use a screen lock.
  • Tell us straight away if you change your mobile number, so texts do not go to a stranger.
  • Please note we cannot be responsible for messages sent to a number you gave us but no longer own, or seen by someone you allow to use your phone.

For more advice, read the NHS guide to keeping your online health records safe and secure.

Prefer not to use the internet? That is fine.

You do not have to use online services to get full care from us. You can always phone us on 01274 612 279 (after 10am for routine matters) or speak to us at reception. Repeat prescriptions can still be ordered using the paper slip on your prescription.

If you would like to get online but do not feel confident, ask at reception - we can point you to help with setting up online services.

Last reviewed: July 2026

Next review due: July 2027

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