NHS Digital

NHS England Digital is the national provider of digital health technology for the NHS in England. It delivers a comprehensive suite of REST and FHIR APIs covering patient demographic services, personal demographics, electronic prescriptions, summary care records, referrals and bookings, GP Connect, vaccination records, and national clinical data services. APIs are hosted on the NHS API platform at api.service.nhs.uk with sandbox and production environments, supporting OAuth 2.0 / private-key JWT, NHS CIS2 Care Identity, NHS login, and API-key authentication patterns.

NHS Digital publishes 8 APIs on the APIs.io network, including Booking API, communication API, Message API, and 5 more. Tagged areas include NHS, health, FHIR, UK, and patient demographics.

The NHS Digital catalog on APIs.io includes 1 JSON-LD context.

NHS Digital’s developer surface includes authentication, getting-started guide, sandbox, GitHub presence, and 13 more developer resources.

🌐 Visit website 📡 Source on GitHub

39.8/100 thin ▬ flat Agent 44/100 agent ready Full breakdown ↓
scored 2026-07-28 · rubric v0.6

AccessFreemiumSelf serve⚡ Free to try

23 APIs

NHShealthFHIRUKpatient demographicsprescriptionsreferralsclinical datadigital healthgovernment

Kin Score

Kin Score How this is scored →
scored 2026-07-28 · rubric v0.6

Composite quality — 39.8/100 · thin

Contract Quality 15.3 / 25

Developer Ergonomics 7.4 / 20

Commercial Clarity 10.0 / 20

Operational Transparency 0.0 / 13

Governance 0.0 / 12

Discoverability 8.2 / 10

Agent readiness — 44/100 · agent ready

Machine-Readable Contract 18 / 18

Agentic Access Contract 10 / 10

MCP Server 0 / 12

Machine-Readable Auth 10 / 10

Idempotency 0 / 9

Stable Error Semantics 8 / 8

Request/Response Examples 7 / 7

Rate-Limit Signaling 7 / 7

Typed Event Surface 0 / 6

Agent Skills 0 / 5

Well-Known Catalog 0 / 4

Consent & Bot Identity 0 / 3

A2A Agent Card 0 / 8

Dry-Run / Simulate Mode 0 / 4

Improve this rating by publishing the missing artifacts — every area above can be raised, and the full rubric is at apis.io/rating/. This rating is computed from github.com/api-evangelist/nhs-digital: open an issue to ask a question, or submit a pull request to add artifacts. Want it done for you? Prioritized profiling — $2,500 →

APIs 23

Individual APIs this provider publishes, each with its own machine-readable definition.

Rate Limits 1

Documented rate limits and quota policies.

Rate Limits

0 limits

RATE LIMITS

FinOps 1

Cost, billing, and metering signals for API financial operations.

Get Started 4

Portal, sign-up, and the first successful call

GettingStarted

GettingStarted

digital-onboarding

digital-onboarding

Sandbox

Sandbox

DeveloperPortal

DeveloperPortal

Agent Surfaces 1

MCP servers, agent skills, and machine-readable catalogs

AgenticAccess

AgenticAccess

Build 1

SDKs, sample code, and the tooling you integrate with

github

github

Access & Security 4

Authentication, authorization, and security posture

VulnerabilityDisclosure

VulnerabilityDisclosure

DomainSecurity

DomainSecurity

Authentication

Authentication

Authentication

Authentication

Operate 3

Status, limits, changes, and where to get help

RateLimits

RateLimits

help

help

developer-community

developer-community

Commercial 2

Pricing, plans, and the legal terms of use

Plans

Plans

TermsOfService

TermsOfService

Other 2

Properties that don't map to a standard resource type

api-catalogue

api-catalogue

api-platform

api-platform

Source (apis.yml)

name: NHS Digital
description: NHS England Digital is the national provider of digital health technology for the NHS in England. It delivers
  a comprehensive suite of REST and FHIR APIs covering patient demographic services, personal demographics, electronic prescriptions,
  summary care records, referrals and bookings, GP Connect, vaccination records, and national clinical data services. APIs
  are hosted on the NHS API platform at api.service.nhs.uk with sandbox and production environments, supporting OAuth 2.0
  / private-key JWT, NHS CIS2 Care Identity, NHS login, and API-key authentication patterns.
accessModel:
  pricing: freemium
  onboarding: self-serve
  trial: false
  try_now: true
  public: false
  label: Freemium · Self-serve signup
  confidence: high
  source:
  - plans
  - authentication
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
tags:
- NHS
- health
- FHIR
- UK
- patient demographics
- prescriptions
- referrals
- clinical data
- digital health
- government
url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer
baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk
contact:
- FN: NHS England Developer Support
  email: api.management@nhs.net
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
maintainers:
- FN: NHS England Digital
  email: api.management@nhs.net
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- name: Personal Demographics Service - FHIR API
  description: Access the national NHS patient demographic database. Supports search, retrieval, and update of patient records
    including names, addresses, dates of birth, registered GPs, nominated pharmacies, and NHS numbers. Offers application-restricted,
    healthcare-worker, and patient access tiers.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - demographics
  - patients
  - FHIR
  - NHS number
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/personal-demographics-service-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  - type: access-tiers
    value: application-restricted, healthcare-worker, patient
- name: Electronic Prescription Service - FHIR API
  description: Transmit electronic prescriptions between prescribers and community dispensers. Prescribers can create, encode,
    and cancel prescriptions; dispensers can download prescriptions, manage dispense notifications, and submit claims to the
    NHS Business Services Authority.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/electronic-prescription-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/electronic-prescriptions
  tags:
  - prescriptions
  - medications
  - FHIR
  - pharmacy
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/electronic-prescription-service-fhir
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/electronic-prescription-service-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/electronic-prescriptions
- name: Summary Care Record - FHIR API
  description: Access a patient's Summary Care Record (SCR), a national electronic record of key clinical information derived
    from GP records. Also provides access to the Access Control Service (ACS) for managing patient consent to share SCR data.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/summary-care-record-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/summary-care-records
  tags:
  - clinical records
  - summary care record
  - FHIR
  - GP records
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/summary-care-record-fhir
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/summary-care-records
- name: National Record Locator - FHIR API
  description: Locate and access patient information shared by other NHS healthcare organisations to support direct patient
    care. Supports both producer and consumer roles, enabling providers to publish record pointers and consumers to search
    by patient, information type, provider, or record ID.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/national-record-locator-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/record-locator
  tags:
  - records
  - FHIR
  - interoperability
  - clinical data
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/national-record-locator-fhir
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/national-record-locator-consumer-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/record-locator
- name: Booking and Referral - FHIR API
  description: Send booking and referral information between NHS service providers following the NHS Booking and Referral
    Standard (BaRS). Enables interoperable bookings and referrals across urgent and emergency care, primary care, and other
    NHS settings.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/booking-and-referral-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/booking-and-referral
  tags:
  - referrals
  - bookings
  - FHIR
  - urgent care
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/booking-and-referral-fhir
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/booking-and-referral-fhir-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/booking-and-referral
- name: GP Connect Appointment Management - FHIR API
  description: Manage appointments across GP practices. Enables third-party systems to search for available slots, book appointments,
    amend or cancel bookings, and retrieve appointment details via a FHIR STU3 API hosted by GP practice systems.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/gp-connect-appointment-management-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/gp-connect
  tags:
  - GP
  - appointments
  - FHIR
  - primary care
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/gp-connect-appointment-management-fhir
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
- name: e-Referral Service - FHIR API
  description: Interact with the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS), the national paperless referral system for primary and secondary
    care. Supports creating and managing referrals, retrieving available service slots, and processing referral responses.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/e-referral-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/referrals
  tags:
  - referrals
  - FHIR
  - secondary care
  - e-RS
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/e-referral-service-fhir
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/e-referrals-service-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/referrals
- name: Immunisation History - FHIR API
  description: Retrieve a patient's immunisation history recorded in NHS national systems. Supports clinical decision-making,
    care continuity, and patient-facing applications by providing structured vaccination records compliant with FHIR R4.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/immunisation-history-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/immunisation-history
  tags:
  - immunisation
  - vaccination
  - FHIR
  - clinical data
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/immunisation-history-fhir
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/immunisation-history
- name: NHS App API
  description: Engage with users of the NHS App, enabling healthcare organisations and suppliers to send in-app messages,
    manage notifications, and trigger communications to patients who have the NHS App installed on their device.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-app
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-app
  tags:
  - NHS App
  - notifications
  - patient communications
  - FHIR
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-app
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/nhs-app-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-app
- name: Directory of Healthcare Services (Service Search) API
  description: Search for NHS healthcare services across England including GPs, dentists, opticians, hospitals, pharmacies,
    and other care settings. Returns structured service information, location data, opening hours, and referral pathways.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/directory-of-healthcare-services
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/service-search
  tags:
  - directory
  - healthcare services
  - search
  - REST
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/directory-of-healthcare-services
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/service-search
- name: NHS Login API
  description: Authenticate patients and members of the public using NHS login, the national identity service for patient-facing
    digital health services in England. Implements OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0 supporting P5, P9, and P10 identity proofing
    levels.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-login
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/oauth2
  tags:
  - authentication
  - identity
  - OAuth 2.0
  - OpenID Connect
  - patients
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-login
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/identity-service-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/oauth2
- name: Spine Directory Service - FHIR API
  description: Query the Spine Directory Service (SDS) to look up endpoint information, organisation codes, and service metadata
    for NHS organisations and systems registered on the NHS Spine. Supports routing decisions for Spine messaging and integration.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/spine-directory-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/spine-directory
  tags:
  - Spine
  - directory
  - FHIR
  - organisations
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/spine-directory-service-fhir
  - type: github
    url: https://github.com/NHSDigital/spine-directory-service-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/spine-directory
- name: Health Research Data Catalogue API
  description: Retrieve metadata about NHS health datasets suitable for publication in health research catalogues. Enables
    researchers and data controllers to discover available NHS datasets, their coverage, data custodians, and access conditions.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/health-research-data-catalogue
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/health-research-data-catalogue
  tags:
  - research
  - datasets
  - metadata
  - REST
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/health-research-data-catalogue
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
- name: NHS Website Content API
  description: Pull content from the NHS.UK website about health conditions, medications, live well guidance, mental health,
    care and support, and the NHS system. Returns structured JSON content suitable for integration into third-party digital
    health services.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-website-content/v2
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-website-content
  tags:
  - content
  - health information
  - REST
  - NHS website
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-website-content/v2
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/nhs-website-content
- name: Message Exchange for Social Care and Health (MESH) API
  description: Exchange messages and data files between NHS organisations using MESH, the national messaging infrastructure.
    Supports sending and receiving structured clinical messages, bulk data transfers, and real-time event notifications between
    Spine-connected systems.
  image: https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/about-nhs-digital/nhs-digital-og.png
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/message-exchange-for-social-care-and-health-api
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/mesh-mailbox
  tags:
  - messaging
  - MESH
  - interoperability
  - data exchange
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/message-exchange-for-social-care-and-health-api
  contact:
  - FN: NHS England Developer Support
    url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
  meta:
  - type: environment-sandbox
    value: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk/mesh-mailbox
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-booking-api
  name: NHS Digital Booking API
  description: The Booking API from NHS Digital — 2 operation(s) for booking.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - Booking
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-booking-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-communication-api
  name: NHS Digital communication API
  description: The communication API from NHS Digital — 4 operation(s) for communication.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - communication
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-communication-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-message-api
  name: NHS Digital Message API
  description: The Message API from NHS Digital — 1 operation(s) for message.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - Message
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-message-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-metadata-api
  name: NHS Digital Metadata API
  description: The Metadata API from NHS Digital — 2 operation(s) for metadata.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - Metadata
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-metadata-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-r4-api
  name: NHS Digital R4 API
  description: The R4 API from NHS Digital — 6 operation(s) for r4.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - R4
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-r4-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-referral-api
  name: NHS Digital Referral API
  description: The Referral API from NHS Digital — 2 operation(s) for referral.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - Referral
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-referral-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-slots-api
  name: NHS Digital Slots API
  description: The Slots API from NHS Digital — 1 operation(s) for slots.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - Slots
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-slots-api-openapi.yml
- aid: nhs-digital:nhs-digital-stu3-api
  name: NHS Digital STU3 API
  description: The STU3 API from NHS Digital — 32 operation(s) for stu3.
  humanURL: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue/personal-demographics-service-fhir
  baseURL: https://api.service.nhs.uk/personal-demographics
  tags:
  - STU3
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/nhs-digital-stu3-api-openapi.yml
common:
- type: AgenticAccess
  url: agentic-access/nhs-digital-agentic-access.yml
- type: VulnerabilityDisclosure
  url: security/nhs-digital-vulnerability-disclosure.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/nhs-digital-domain-security.yml
- type: Authentication
  url: authentication/nhs-digital-authentication.yml
- type: Plans
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue
- type: RateLimits
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation
- type: Authentication
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation/security-and-authorisation
- type: GettingStarted
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation/onboarding-process
- type: digital-onboarding
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/guides-and-documentation/digital-onboarding
- type: Sandbox
  url: https://sandbox.api.service.nhs.uk
- type: DeveloperPortal
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer
- type: api-catalogue
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/api-catalogue
- type: help
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/developer/help-and-support
- type: developer-community
  url: https://developer.community.nhs.uk
- type: github
  url: https://github.com/NHSDigital
- type: TermsOfService
  url: https://onboarding.prod.api.platform.nhs.uk/PolicyPages/TermsOfUsePolicy
- type: api-platform
  url: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/api-platform
modified: '2026-06-13'