Website of the Department of Health

HealthSpace will become part of the NHS Choices suite of online services which help users to make decisions about their own health and care based on high quality medical information as well as information about specific services. It complements NHS Choices by enabling transactions and providing a secure place for patients to access, store and amend elements of their personal information.

HealthSpace will improve communications between clinicians and patients by providing a secure online environment where they can communicate. Patients will eventually be able to receive reminders about appointments through HealthSpace, as well as consulting their doctor online about their medication. It is envisaged that clinicians will be able to choose whether to make use of these services with their patients.

Future plans for HealthSpace will enable users to securely access a wider range of services. New services being considered include:

• Personal Health Information – enabling patients to view and store clinical information about themselves (e.g. test results).
• Communicator – enabling secure communications between patients and their clinicians in the NHS.
• Self Care – enabling patients to send self-monitored information to their clinician.
• Making Appointments – providing secure and direct access from HealthSpace to appointment booking services in primary care, e.g. GP surgeries.

Security of personal data will be a primary concern for many potential users of the service. To address these concerns, HealthSpace has implemented a rigorous registration and authentication process, checking user identification when they initially register for the service and then authenticating their right to access services on an ongoing basis. This will be enhanced as HealthSpace is more widely available.

The personal services offered by HealthSpace will provide significant benefits to both the public and the NHS. Some are already beginning to be delivered for patients, for example access to Summary Care Records in some early adopter areas.  Many more benefits will be realised as new HealthSpace services are implemented. HealthSpace offers a change in the dynamic of healthcare delivery, moving towards a partnership approach between clinician and patient.    

For more information about HealthSpace or to register online for a HealthSpace account visit:

• HealthSpace (opens new window)