To change your name with the NHS, you tell your GP practice and show them proof of your new name — usually a deed poll. Your GP updates your NHS record, and the change flows through to the wider NHS systems that rely on your GP registration. It is free, and crucially your NHS number never changes — it stays with you for life, no matter how many times you change your name.
There is no central “change my name with the NHS” button, though. The NHS is made up of separate services — your GP, your dentist, your optician and any hospital you have been treated at all keep their own records — so you need to update each one. This guide walks through exactly how, starting with your GP, which is the most important step.
Do you need a deed poll to change your name with the NHS?
Yes, in practice you do. When you change your name, the Department of Health and Social Care requires that you give your GP practice a copy of an appropriate document as proof before they amend your record. For most people that means an unenrolled deed poll (or a marriage certificate, if you have changed your name on marriage).
An unenrolled deed poll is the standard document behind around 98% of UK name changes. It is legally valid the moment you sign it in front of an independent adult witness — no court, solicitor or NHS approval is needed — and it is accepted by the NHS, HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC and UK banks. You do not need the expensive optional “enrolled” version for the NHS. If you would like the full background, see our simple guide to unenrolled deed polls.
How to change your name with your GP, step by step
Your GP record is the hub of your NHS identity, so update it first. The process is straightforward:
- Contact your GP surgery. Since 2021 every practice must offer a way to update your personal details, so you can often do this online, by their app or form, by email, or in person at reception.
- Tell them you have changed your name and ask them to update your patient record.
- Provide your proof. Supply a copy of your deed poll (or marriage certificate). Some surgeries accept a scan or photo through their online form; others prefer to see it at the desk. Keep the original safe — you will need it again for your passport, driving licence and bank.
- Confirm the change. Ask that your name is updated across your record, including on repeat prescriptions and any communication preferences.
Most practices update the record within a few days. Once done, the new name appears when you log in to the NHS App or the NHS website, and it feeds through to the systems that use your GP registration.
Your NHS number stays the same
This worries a lot of people, so to be clear: your NHS number does not change when you change your name. It is a unique 10-digit number allocated to you at birth or when you first use NHS care, and it is valid for life. Changing your name simply attaches a new name to the same number — your medical history stays linked and nothing is lost. (The only situations where a new NHS number is issued are things like adoption, gender reassignment or protecting someone’s identity, which are handled separately and are not part of an ordinary name change.)
The NHS App, NHS login and prescriptions
A common point of confusion is the NHS App. You can update your own email address and mobile number directly in the app or through your NHS login, but you cannot change your name there yourself — name changes must go through your GP surgery. Once the surgery updates your record, your new name will show in the app automatically.
Your NHS login (the account you use to prove who you are online) links to the same record, so there is nothing separate to change; it follows your GP update. The same is true for prescriptions — once your GP record shows your new name, repeat prescriptions and the barcode your pharmacy scans will carry it too. It is worth telling your regular pharmacy directly as well, so the name on your prescriptions matches their records and there is no hold-up when you collect medication.
Dentist, optician and hospital records are separate
Updating your GP does not automatically update everyone else in the NHS. These are run under separate contracts and keep their own records, so notify each one:
- NHS dentist — contact your dental practice and give them your new name and, if asked, your deed poll.
- Optician — tell your optician so your records and any NHS voucher entitlement match.
- Hospitals — if you have an upcoming appointment or ongoing treatment, contact the hospital’s patient records or PALS team directly. Hospital records are held by each NHS trust, so a name change at one trust does not update another. Records from past appointments may still show your old name until they are amended, which is normal.
When your GP makes a new referral, it will carry your updated name, but existing referrals and booked appointments may need the receiving hospital to be told separately.
Timing, fees and proof they will ask for
Changing your name with the NHS is free — there is no NHS charge to update your records. The only cost involved is getting the deed poll itself in the first place. Your GP update is usually done within a few days of you providing proof, though it can take a little longer for every downstream system to catch up, so do not be alarmed if an appointment letter arrives in your old name shortly after.
The proof they will ask for is simply your deed poll (or marriage certificate). You do not need photo ID to register with or stay registered at a GP, but you do need the name-change document to evidence the change itself.
Common pitfalls
A few things trip people up:
- Assuming it all updates at once. Your GP, dentist, optician and each hospital are separate — update them one by one.
- Trying to change your name in the NHS App. The app only lets you edit contact details; the name comes from your GP.
- Worrying about the NHS number. It never changes, so your history is safe.
- Forgetting the pharmacy, which can cause a mismatch when collecting prescriptions.
The NHS is one item on a longer list. For the full running order of who to tell — and the ID documents that matter most — see our complete checklist for updating your ID, and our roundup of which companies accept a deed poll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my NHS number change when I change my name?
No. Your NHS number is a unique 10-digit number allocated for life. Changing your name simply links your new name to the same number, so your medical records stay connected and nothing is lost.
Is it free to change my name with the NHS?
Yes. The NHS does not charge to update your records. The only cost is obtaining your deed poll in the first place.
Can I change my name in the NHS App?
Not directly. The NHS App lets you update your own email and mobile number, but your name must be changed by your GP surgery. Once they update your record, your new name appears in the app automatically.
What proof does my GP need to change my name?
A copy of your deed poll, or a marriage certificate if you changed your name on marriage. The Department of Health and Social Care requires GP practices to see an appropriate document as proof before updating your record.
Do I need to tell my dentist and optician separately?
Yes. Your NHS dentist, optician and any hospital keep their own records, so updating your GP does not update them. Contact each one and provide your deed poll if asked.
Will my old hospital records show my new name?
Your record going forward will use your new name once the trust updates it, but letters and notes from past appointments may still show your previous name. This is normal and does not affect your care.
Ready to Change Your Name?
Before the NHS can update your records, you need a valid deed poll to show them. Our professionally printed unenrolled deed poll starts from just £14.49, with same-day dispatch before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. The online order takes around 4 minutes, and we have helped over 160,000 UK customers change their name with confidence — ready to show your GP, dentist, optician and every hospital on your list.