Tell us who you want to message
You only need a patient’s NHS number (opens in a new tab) to send them messages.
NHS Notify finds people’s contact details using their NHS numbers in the Personal Demographics Service (PDS) (opens in a new tab).
How to provide recipients’ NHS numbers
If you’re using the API
Send recipients’ NHS numbers as part of your request.
Use the format shown in the API documentation (opens in a new tab).
If you’re using MESH
If you’re using the Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH) (opens in a new tab), upload NHS numbers in a CSV file.
The onboarding team will give you an example CSV file on request.
Providing your own contact details for recipients
If you need to use contact details that are not from PDS, you must ask NHS Notify for permission.
We only allow this in exceptional circumstances. We will check your request with our information governance, legal and clinical teams for approval.
You can only request to use these contact details for the recipient. You cannot use this to contact a proxy, carer, parent or anyone else on the recipient’s behalf.