# Is the NIR looking at creating a Master Patient Index which could potentially close the loop for patients without NHS numbers?

**URL:** <https://developer.community.nhs.uk/t/is-the-nir-looking-at-creating-a-master-patient-index-which-could-potentially-close-the-loop-for-patients-without-nhs-numbers/14618>\
**Category:** Scope & Vision FAQs\
**Created:** [21 August 2026 07:08 UTC](https://developer.community.nhs.uk/t/is-the-nir-looking-at-creating-a-master-patient-index-which-could-potentially-close-the-loop-for-patients-without-nhs-numbers/14618 "2026-08-21T07:08:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cherie\_Norton](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/nhsdigitaldeveloper/user_avatar/developer.community.nhs.uk/cherie_norton/32/1144_2.png) [@Cherie\_Norton](https://developer.community.nhs.uk/u/Cherie_Norton)\
**Post date:** [21 August 2026 07:08 UTC](https://developer.community.nhs.uk/t/is-the-nir-looking-at-creating-a-master-patient-index-which-could-potentially-close-the-loop-for-patients-without-nhs-numbers/14618/1 "2026-08-21T07:08:51Z")

</div>

No, all NHSE products use a validated NHS number as the primary id. There is a national expectation that organisations should be including NHS number in the patient ID set.