Platform capabilities available now

Here is a summary of the capabilities available for each channel that reflects the NDC Platform in its current state (August 2022).

The diagram below shows how the NHS App and NHS website channels integrate conceptually with third party services and how those capabilities are made available to consumers.

Health provider publisher profiles

Allows third parties to manage and upload their own content to their profile. This presents users with current information such as details of specialist services, facilities and waiting times.

NHS Profile Manager

Content syndication service

A range of free APIs available to third party publishers for syndicating content from the NHS website to present locally on their platform for end users. The APIs allow publishers access to clinically assured content that they can obtain and distribute independently and at low-cost.   

Syndication Application Protocol Interfaces (APIs)

NHS Digital service manual

A set of guidelines covering design and coded software components for third party publishers creating content for the NHS. Learn from the research and experience of other NHS teams to build consistent, usable services that put people first. 

NHS Digital Service Manual

Reusable content tools

A set of tools and resources that are free to use and simple to embed straight into third party sites to give users instant access to clinically safe, trusted NHS content.

Widgets and tools

Health provider ratings and reviews APIs

An online service allowing people to give a satisfaction rating and review NHS health providers via the NHS website, moderated by the NHS website team.

Third parties can display the ratings and reviews on their platform via the API. End users can then choose local health providers based on public feedback whilst hospitals and other third parties can respond to reviews.    

An inbound API allows data to be received from third party systems, in bulk if necessary, for onward moderation and publication.

Published and maintained directory listings of NHS health providers

Providers such as GPs, pharmacies, hospitals and mental health services are categorised by postcode and catchment area allowing end users to search for local providers. Third parties can use this to help their end users find local services via their digital platforms.

Service Finder API

Service look-up pages, for example Mental Health IAPT service finder

Access to locally commissioned services

Third parties can integrate their service into the NHS App to improve their audience reach whilst also being able to benefit from centrally funded future NHS App capabilities, such as notifications and messaging.

Example service integrations include:

• request medical advice from a GP via online triage
• support GP-led patient admin requests, such as a Fit Note
• enable access to health and care providers data and services via personal health record information

Integrating your third party service into the NHS App

There are two primary methods by which service providers can integrate into the NHS App. Each approach has considerations regarding the level of effort required by the supplier as well as the end user experience.    

1. API integration

This approach provides the NHS App team with more control over the user experience, how users discover the service and also the accessibility level of the service. The NHS App team creates each component as part of the design and integrates supplier data via APIs. The NHS App supports both data integration and a messaging service.

Advantages

For end users, API integration creates a more seamless end to end experience.

For suppliers, API integration allows greater connectivity between integrated supplier services and existing national App services, such as Notification and Messaging, creating the opportunity for richer experiences for the end user.

Supplier considerations

Some providers may need to invest effort initially to meet the API standard integration requirements. There also needs to be consideration given to how a supplier wishes to innovate the integrated service, as changes to design or functionality once integrated would need to be re-assessed with the NHS App team. This is to ensure the journey still offers a good fit within the App’s service architecture.    

Current services that use API integrations

National services, such as Manage your organ transplant donation decision and Notification and Messaging.

2. Web integration

This approach frames the third-party service within the NHS native App. The supplier is responsible for the user experience which is created against NHS Digital Service Manual and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.

Advantages

For end users, web integration provides a good user experience as good practice guidelines and standards are required to followed by the supplier.

For suppliers, web integration empowers the supplier to make changes to their service, independent from NHS App team engagement.

Supplier considerations

Some development effort is often required to ensure the presentation of the service meets usability and accessibility for end users standards, aligned to NHS Digital Service Manual.

Current services that use web integrations

The following services use web integrations:

• online consultations 
• care plans and hospital record access
• secondary care test results
• correspondence

NHS login verifies a user’s identity, and matches them safely and securely to their NHS record to enable access to national, local and third party services. It provides a simple, single and consistent way for people to safely sign in to digital health and care services, wherever they see the NHS login button.

Integrating your third party service with NHS login.