How to Find Your Child's NHS Number: Babies, Children and Teens

Most babies are given an NHS number at birth. Here is where to find your child's number at every age, and what to do if you cannot find it.

Updated · 5 min read

Illustration of a parent and child beside a health record book with a ten-digit number

Most children in England and Wales get their NHS number at birth, so your child almost certainly has one even if you have never seen it. You can usually find it in their red book, on NHS letters about them, or by asking your GP surgery. Once your child is 13, they can also see it in their own NHS App.

When children are given an NHS number

According to NHS England, a baby's NHS number is usually allocated by the midwife, in hospital or at home, as part of the official notification of the birth. This applies whether your baby is born in an NHS hospital, a private hospital or at home, and it also covers babies of overseas parents and parents in the armed forces.

Children who were not born in England or Wales get a number later, usually when they are first registered with a GP surgery.

The number has 10 digits, usually written as 3, 3 and 4 digits, and it stays with your child for life. It only changes in rare cases, such as adoption.

Places to look for a baby's or young child's number

The red book

Shortly before or after birth, you are given a personal child health record, usually with a red cover and known as the red book. Health visitors, midwives and GPs use it to record your child's weight, vaccinations and reviews. The NHS number is often written in it, so check the front pages first.

Letters about your child

The NHS number is usually printed on letters such as:

  • vaccination invitations and reminders
  • letters from a health visiting team
  • hospital or clinic appointment letters
  • referral letters and test results

Look near the top of the letter, next to your child's name and date of birth.

Your GP surgery

Your child's GP surgery can tell you the number. Because this is personal information, the surgery may ask you to show ID and prove that you have parental responsibility, for example with your child's birth certificate.

Using the NHS App for your child

If you manage your child's GP services through family and carer access (also called proxy access) in your NHS App, you can book appointments or order prescriptions for them. However, the NHS App help pages say you cannot view the NHS number of someone you are acting for. You will need one of the other methods above.

Setting up this access is a separate process run by your GP surgery. You and your child must be registered at the same surgery, and you must have legal parental responsibility.

Children aged 13 to 15

From 13, a young person who is registered with a GP surgery in England can create their own NHS account. Once they have logged in, their NHS number is shown in their profile, under their name and date of birth.

To set up an account, they need their own email address and phone number. To see their health information, they also need to prove who they are, for example with a passport or provisional driving licence.

Teenagers aged 16 and over

At 16, young people are presumed able to make their own decisions about their medical care. Family and carer access for a child usually ends when they turn 16, unless your teenager asks for you to keep helping them. The GP surgery may then speak to your teenager directly rather than to you.

The simplest option at this age is for your teenager to look up the number themselves, in the NHS App or on their NHS letters. Our guide to finding your NHS number covers all the ways an adult can do this.

If your child does not have an NHS number yet

If your family has moved to England from another country, your child may not have a number yet. Register them with a GP surgery. Children under 16 are usually registered by a parent or guardian on a separate form, and the GP registration page says it can help to provide the red book if you have one.

You may be asked for proof of ID and address for your child, such as a birth certificate, but registering is free and a GP surgery should not refuse your child just because you cannot provide these. Your child will be given an NHS number as part of registration.

Your child does not need an NHS number to get urgent care. If they are unwell, use 111, your GP surgery or, in an emergency, A&E or 999, without waiting to find the number.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

If your child was born or registered in Scotland, they have a Community Health Index (CHI) number instead, which starts with their date of birth. In Northern Ireland, children have a Health and Care (H&C) number. Both are 10 digits and can be found on health service letters or by asking the GP practice.

Questions parents often ask

Is my child's NHS number on their birth certificate?

No. Birth certificates are issued by the register office and do not include an NHS number. Use the red book, NHS letters or your GP surgery instead.

Does the number change if we move house?

No. The NHS number stays the same wherever your child lives in England, Wales or the Isle of Man. If you move to a new area, register your child with a new GP surgery. Their records will follow them.

Do I need my child's NHS number to book vaccinations?

Usually not. Your GP surgery can find your child's record from their name, date of birth and address. Having the number ready can still make online forms and phone calls quicker.

Sources

Checked on 14 October 2026:

This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.

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