Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of electronic patient record systems for patients who do not own a mobile phone and cannot use text message verification services.

A phone number is required to register with the National Health Service login, used to access NHS digital services, although it is not required to log in after registration is complete. Two-step verification is a necessary security feature to ensure that only the correct individual can access an account, and that their medical information is protected.

Once registered, to log in without a phone number, people can have the login remembered on their computer or tablet, or set up face or fingerprint login on their devices, provided their devices support this. They can also set up their device using passkeys, which allow use of the main login used on the device, with access to a trusted phone number required to set this up.

However, NHS England recognises the two-step verification features that NHS login supports may not work for everyone. Landline support was therefore recently introduced for NHS login, that allows those without a mobile phone to register and receive security codes. The needs of those with hearing difficulties were considered, and research with deaf charities showed that most people had access to a trusted phone number that they could use. Phone numbers can also be shared between people for NHS login purposes, as a further option to allow access.