Londoners can now create and update their own Universal Care Plans (UCP) through the NHS App and web-based login service, marking an important step forward in delivering more personalised, patient-centred care (20 May 2026).
Around 100,000 people living or receiving care in London currently have a UCP. These plans allow individuals’ care preferences and wishes to be securely shared with health and care professionals across the capital, helping ensure people receive coordinated, joined-up care that reflects what matters most to them.
With this new development, people can choose to directly contribute to their care plans by creating or editing key personal sections, such as “What matters to you”. This gives individuals a stronger voice in decisions about their treatment and support, while improving the accuracy and completeness of care plans. It also strengthens collaboration between patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
The changes are designed to enhance transparency, giving people a clearer understanding of their care while supporting better coordination across services. Ultimately, this will help improve health outcomes for Londoners.
The new functionality is being introduced in phases. While it is technically available to all patients registered with a London GP practice, only a small number of practices will actively promote and support its use in the early stages. Lessons learned during this period will inform a wider rollout across London.
Further enhancements are being explored also planned. These include proxy access, which will allow carers and family members to contribute to care plans on behalf of individuals who may not be able to do so themselves. In addition, NHS App notifications are being considered to prompt users to review and update their plans, encouraging ongoing engagement.
Guidance and support materials are available for both patients and staff, including a short video showing how to access and edit a UCP within the NHS App.
Nick Tigere, Head of the Universal Care Plan Programme, said:
“The introduction of patient-editable access to the UCP is an important milestone. Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible, including clinical partners and members of our People with Lived Experience Group. It has truly been a collective effort.
“This development aligns closely with the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, which highlights the importance of patient participation, digital innovation and proactive care. By bringing editable UCPs into the NHS App, we are turning these ambitions into reality and supporting shared decision-making and strengthening the relationship between people and their care providers.”
Katherine Buxton, UCP Clinical Lead, said:
“As a Consultant in Palliative Care, I have seen first-hand how important it is for people to be involved in planning their care, and to know their wishes are shared with those supporting them.
“People have been able to view their UCP in the NHS App for some time, which has already provided reassurance. However, being able to edit their plans is a major step forward. It will further support shared decision-making and, over time, help improve health outcomes for Londoners.”
The Universal Care Plan (UCP) is an NHS service that enables every Londoner to have their care plans and wishes digitally shared with health and care professionals across the Capital. It can be accessed by health and social care professionals through the London Care Record, some local Electronic Patient Record systems or via a web portal.
Introduced in July 2022 to initially support End-of-Life and palliative care planning in March 2024 the UCP was extended to also support people with sickle cell disease. Last year the UCP was further expanded into a broader personalised care and support plan also supporting patients with other multiple long-term conditions including dementia, frailty and learning disabilities.
In total around 100,000 people living or receiving care in London have a care plan on the UCP system. Currently there are over 92,000 living Londoners with a UCP. Latest figures show there are over 47,000 views of care plans by health and care staff each month, including over 17,000 by urgent and emergency care staff.
Londoners have been able to view their UCP via the NHS App and login service since January 2024.
To support both staff and patients with editable access to the UCP a number of resources have been developed that are available on our website. This includes a short walkthrough video demonstrating how to access the UCP within the NHS App and use the new patient editable functionality. This can be accessed here.