An NHS smartcard enables you to access e-Referrals and other parts of the NHS Care Records Service (NCRS), as well as allowing you to electronically sign prescriptions (active role base clinicians only).

You can take your Smartcard with you from job to job. You will only have one smartcard, even if you work for more than one NHS organisation or if you have more than one position in your organisation.

To look after your smartcard, make sure you:

• keep it safe and secure
• never tell anyone your passcode
• never allow anyone else to use it
• never leave it unattended.

You should immediately report any loss, theft or damage to your smartcard to your sponsor or registration manager (details below).

Smartcard Self-Unlocking

Smartcard self-unlocking has been made easier - you no longer need to register for self-unlocking.

If you have a mail account registered on your smartcard profile and your smartcard is locked, you should be able click on the prompt (when the card is locked after three attempts) or go to the below link which will give you a temporary passcode to enter, then ask you to change to 6-8 digit passcode of your choice.

If there is no email account associated with your profile, you can approach your site sponsors to add your account onto the Spine (smartcard profile) - it should then work after a few minutes of the update.

If this does not work, the Registration Authority admin staff member within your practice may be able to reset this for you by accessing Launch Care Identity Management via the NCRS portal.

For support, contact:
t: 020 4506 6006
e: ra.nclicb@nhs.net