Skip to main content

Using the Patient Finder

Sophie
Updated

Purpose

The main way to find a patient record in Medicus is to use the patient finder tool. This guide outlines how to use the patient finder.

Locating the patient finder

In the left hand menu of Medicus, you can click the magnifying glass icon and Patient Finder text which will open the patient finder.

Screenshot 2024-02-08 at 14.04.53.png

Once the search dialog opens any recently visited patients are displayed before any search term has been entered.

Screenshot 2025-07-17 at 13.09.18.png

There are two options for finding a patient:

  1. Text search.
  2. Advanced search.

Using the text search

The text search works on either a patient name, date of birth (DOB) or NHS number.

Screenshot 2025-07-17 at 13.09.18.png

The text search has been designed for you to find patients as quickly and easily as possible, whilst ensuring you search for the right patient.

Using advanced search

If you do not know the patient's name, DOB or NHS number, you can use the advanced search in the patient finder to look for a patient using other information. For example, you may know which clinician saw the patient last and when.

Click the Advanced options button on the patient finder.

Screenshot 2025-07-17 at 13.13.15.png

You'll then be taken to the advanced search form where you can search for registered patients using additional information.

Screenshot 2024-02-08 at 14.33.51.png

Search results

For both the text search and advanced search, the results are displayed in the same way.

Screenshot 2025-07-17 at 13.15.27.png

Clicking on a result will take you to the patient record for the chosen patient.

The Good Practice Guidelines for GP Electronic Patient Records recommends the following to reduce the risk of patient misidentification:

"It is essential to match patients across several data fields to get a positive match and we advise that current best practice to achieve (near) certain identification requires a confirmed match in all the following data fields;

  • Last name (or family name)
  • First name (calling name)
  • Date of birth
  • NHS number
  • Sex (administrative gender)
  • Address (including postcode)

Source: Main heading (publishing.service.gov.uk) (P.104)

Deceased patients

Deceased patients will be returned in search results and can be identified by the presence of a badge on the patient result card that says Deceased.

Screenshot 2025-07-17 at 13.17.04.png