UK National Health Service rolls out Yoti’s biometric digital ID for staff onboarding

Yoti’s digital ID card solution is being deployed by NHS England and NHS Improvement to verify healthcare workers’ identity, improve onboarding and enhance privacy and security with biometrics during the coronavirus crisis, the company announced.

NHS ID cards are added to staff phones and they can use a contactless ID app to prove their identity both online and in person to speed up workflows.

“We’re proud to be supporting the NHS,” said Robin Tombs, Yoti CEO, in a prepared statement. “Helping society is core to our principles and we want to do whatever we can to help those impacted by COVID-19. Providing staff with an NHS digital ID Card using the Yoti platform will save the NHS time and money, while ensuring privacy and security.”

Digital IDs provide enhanced security as details are encrypted, and secured not only by a PIN but also by the user’s biometrics for personal data protection. NHS can easily use the app to issue, update and revoke credentials, including job title and location, Electronic Service Record (ESR), and verified NHS email address, according to the announcement. The app also features anti-spoofing measures to prevent fraud.

Yoti’s ID service is also used by the Scottish Improvement Service and Jersey Government. The company claims its app has been downloaded by more than 6.5 million people around the world and 1.5 in the U.K. alone.

In March, Yoti announced it was offering its biometric digital identity verification service for free for the next three months to all public health organizations, emergency services and community initiatives fighting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  digital identity  |  facial recognition  |  identity verification  |  mobile app  |  Yoti