Account management
Register and create a new account, change your password and update your personal details within the NHS England Terminology Server.
You can access the NHS England Terminology Server as an individual or by using a system-to-system account.
Individual access
There are two tools for individual access:
Snapper is the main tool ready for you to query and author content on the Terminology Server - more details are available in the Creating an account section below.
Shrimp is an additional terminology browser that is freely available on the internet, but it is only for browsing the content – more details are available in the Links section below.
Some content is copyright-protected (such as SNOMED CT or ICD-10) so you will need to register for an account to view it.
When you register, you will be granted an authenticated account which will allow you to query all the content contained on the Terminology Server.
Requesting authoring permissions
Authoring capability is restricted to users who want to create content, not just query the server. Access to the Authoring environment is tightly controlled.
To author content, a request must be submitted by email to [email protected]. The request must come from an NHS email address and be titled ‘Request individual author permissions – terminology server’.
Users who do not have an NHS email address will need to work with an NHS partner to request authoring access on their behalf.
Developers wishing to integrate the Terminology Server with their software will need to apply for a system-to-system account.
Creating an account
Unauthenticated access
To access the system without registering (Unauthenticated Access), click the appropriate option in Links.
Access to content is severely limited as an unauthenticated user because most content requires acceptance of the terms of use.
Authenticated access
To register for an account and gain access to all publicly available content, click the appropriate Snapper option in Links and follow the registration instructions below.
Register for an account using Snapper
1. Read and accept the presented license agreements.
2. Click the green Login button at the top right-hand corner of the Snapper homepage.
3. Click the green Login button on the pop-up.
4. On the right hand side of the next pop-up, select a log in option. If you have an NHSmail account, select this option. If not, choose from one of the other identity providers on the list where you have an account (or go to one of the identity providers to create an account).
5. Once you have chosen your identity method, the system will take you to the login screen for that system. Log in using your user ID and password for that system.
Your password will not be shared with the Terminology Server.
6. Depending on the system you have chosen as an identity provider, you may get a pop-up box with user ID and name. Fill in any blank boxes.
7. The next pop-up box will present you with a link to the Terminology Server User License. Follow the link and read the License Agreement before accepting using the Accept button at the bottom of the pop-up box.
If the session expires when you return to the pop-up screen, just select the option to continue the login process.
8. The next pop-up box will present you with a link to the Terminology Server Content License Agreement. Follow the link and read the Content License Agreement (including links to the individual License Agreements) before pressing Accept at the bottom of the pop-up box.
9. You will now be returned to Snapper where you can work with the Terminology Server.
10. Tip: You can add more identity providers (Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft for example) to your Terminology Server account if you wish. This will ensure that if, in future, your primary identity provider is experiencing technical difficulties, you have a back-up identity provider to log into your Terminology Server account.
To do this, click the Account button at the top right hand corner of the Snapper screen.
This will open a new tab in your browser. Select Federated Identity from the menu on the left, click the relevant “Add” button and log into the account for the chosen identity provider. Repeat for other identity providers as required. Close the browser tab when you have finished.
Changing personal details
You can update your personal details via the account management console.
1. Click the Account button at the top right hand corner of the Snapper screen.
2. Select Account from the menu on the left-hand pane.
3. Ensure you click Save before closing the browser tab.
This changes the details registered on the Terminology Server only. If you wish to change your details with your identity provider (for example GitHub), please contact your identity provider directly.
System-to-system account
If you are interested in integrating a software application with the Terminology Server, or if you want to syndicate content from the NHS England Terminology Server to your Terminology Server, you will need to complete a system-to-system request form.
User agreements and policies
An End User Agreement, Content Licences Agreement and Privacy Policy is in place for all users and should be read before using the Terminology Server.
Acceptance of the End User Agreement and Content Licences Agreement is recorded as part of registering for an account
User transparency statement
When you register for an account on the Terminology Server, NHS England will collect and process your name and email address as provided during the registration process. This, along with the IP address presented to the Terminology Server each time you log on, will be processed for the sole purpose of operating the Terminology Server.
Links
To access the NHS applications Snapper and Shrimp, please use the links below.
Snapper - Production Server - this gives read-only access to the content.
Snapper – Authoring Server - this environment is used for authoring content. Access is restricted, please see Requesting authoring permissions.
The Terminology Server does not come with a built-in browser, so Shrimp is given as an example of a browsing tool, freely accessible on the internet. Other browsers can be used.
Shrimp is not recommended for browsing ICD-10 or OPCS-4 content.
Other browsing tools can be found on our Service Navigation and Status page.
Last edited: 3 June 2025 5:28 pm