Trans, Non-Binary or Intersex (TNBI)

Your NHS record has a gender marker, which is either;

• female 'F'
• male 'M,
• indeterminate 'I'

This gender marker is seen by your GP surgery and other healthcare providers.

Your NHS gender marker is assigned at birth along with your NHS number, and therefore is usually your sex assigned at birth.

As part of your gender-affirming goals, you may wish to update your NHS gender marker to reflect your gender.

Unfortunately, we are unable to change a patient’s legal name, gender marker or NHS number.  

This is based on national guidance from NHS England. The  policy exists to ensure that all records for patients under 18 are accurate and consistent for reasons of operational  safety, patient care and safeguarding.  

While we cannot make these legal changes, we can update your preferred name and pronouns when we interact with you.

Please let us know what you would like your preferred name and pronouns to be. 

Requesting a new NHS number (New number and new record generated)  

Pros  

• You may not have any information with your deadname on your new NHS record.  

Cons 

• You may lose parts of your NHS record in the transfer process. 
• Your NHS record may be 'offline' for days/weeks whilst the process takes place, causing delays. 
• You may be lost to follow-up from healthcare teams. 
• You may have issues with active referrals to healthcare teams. 
• You may have issues collecting prescriptions. 
• You cannot revert to your original NHS number.  

Any future gender change would require another new number. 

Screening

You will not be automatically contacted about screening programmes associated with your birth gender (eg, cervical, prostate, or breast screening). However, we can add an alert to your new record at your request to ensure you are invited for any relevant screening.  

Currently the option for non-binary gender marker is 'I' for 'indeterminate'. There is not an option on the NHS system for 'non-binary'.

This is a relatively simple process. You will need to request this in writing for us to start the process.

Contact us to start this process

Updating your name and title does not affect your NHS number, but there is a chance you may have issues with active referrals or follow-ups as details on the NHS computer systems may not match original referral letters.

You may have issues with online platforms such as Patient Knows Best or the NHS App.

You have the choice to either retain your current NHS number, or request a completely new NHS number and in either case, you will still be able to change your title, name, and gender marker.

Please review the pros and cons section for more information.

Your GP will need your request in writing. An application is made by your GP to an NHS team called Primary Care Support England, or PCSE.  

PCSE can update the central NHS database with your gender marker, which means it is changed for your whole NHS record. 

There is not a way currently to update your gender marker just with your GP. It currently must be for your entire NHS  record via the process above.

Keeping your Existing NHS number  
(Change title, name, and gender marker)

Pros  

• All your past medical records, historical appointments, and clinical data remain securely linked under one number. 
• There is a reduced risk of disruption to ongoing care, referrals, or hospital waiting lists. 
• You will not need to re-register for services such as the NHS App. 

Cons 

• You may not be invited for relevant health screening.  
• The binary gender code or 'indeterminate' code may not fully reflect your gender identity. 
• You may have issues with online platforms such as Patient Knows Best or the NHS App.