An NHS HEI OpenAthens account is used to provide eligible higher education students with authenticated access to NHS Core Content resources such as e-journals and databases provided by Health Education England (HEE) and NICE.

Who is eligible for an account?

If you are a student at CCCU on an NHS commissioned course of study that involves practice/placement with an NHS service provider, then you are eligible to access the NHS Core Content resources for the duration of your course. NHS OpenAthens eligibility guidance states the following:

‘Healthcare students, from the date of commencement of an education programme which involves practice and placement within NHS provider services, for the duration of their programme (H).

Note: Healthcare students at universities which have an OpenAthens administrator can have an NHS OpenAthens account for the duration of their course. Students at these universities will have NHS accounts set up for them by their administrator and should not attempt to register online. Healthcare students can also register for an NHS OpenAthens account when on their NHS placement.’

NICE, 2025 – OpenAthens eligibility.

How do I obtain an account?

At CCCU, the subject librarian administers access for eligible students. If you are an eligible student in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, then you will receive an email advising you of your NHS HEI OpenAthens account and how to activate it. This email will be sent to your CCCU email address in during Personal Development Week in your first year of your course. A Blackboard Announcement will precede the release of accounts. Look out for an email from <athens-noreply@eduserv.org.uk> asking you to activate your account, accept the terms and conditions and create your password.

Access will be permitted for the duration of your CCCU course. Your account will expire automatically when your course ends, however if you require an extension contact your account administrator.

Should you need to reset your password, head to the login to your account page and opt to reset. Be aware that there is a minimum password length of 10 characters.

If you are a student at CCCU on an NHS commissioned course of study and you are simultaneously employed by an NHS service provider, for example on a postgraduate course or an apprenticeship, then you can check to see if you’re entitled to access a range of content purchased by the NHS. If you are eligible, you can register for an general OpenAthens account using the online form. View the registering for an NHS OpenAthens account video for guidance on filling in the form.

What resources are available via an NHS HEI OpenAthens account?

The resources provided by this scheme are in addition to the resources provided to you by CCCU Library and Learning Resources and are subject to change by NHS England. The resources are not accessible via CCCU LibrarySearch, do not appear in CCCU library guides and are not taught/supported by CCCU librarians. Resources such as BMJ Best Practice, e-Learning for Healthcare and databases like AMED and HMIC are available via this scheme.

How do I access the resources?

Access the following resources via the links shown below, at OpenAthens for the NHS, via NICE or via the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub. When logging in to the resources listed below, if asked for your institution, you should search for/select ‘NHS in England’, rather than searching for CCCU. Try to avoid conflict between your CCCU and NHS HEI details by using a different browser to access the NHS resources.

BMJ Best Practice

Log in to BMJ Best Practice by selecting ‘Access through your institution’ then search for and select ‘Canterbury Christ Church – NHS in England’. Once logged in you can create a personal account.

e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) portal

Log in to e-LfH Hub by clicking on ‘Sign on with OpenAthens’. If you have another e-LfH account, you can link it with your NHS HEI OpenAthens account when you first log in using the NHS HEI OpenAthens account details. If you’ve never had an e-LfH account before, click ‘Proceed’ and fill in the final details to create your e-LfH profile. At the very least, you will need to enter your first name and your email (try either format: a.student999@canterbury.ac.uk or as999@canterbury.ac.uk). Once this is complete, you will be able to enrol yourself on the modules your tutors have asked you to complete. The CCCU Librarians do not know which modules you are required to complete so please contact your tutor if you are unsure. Always remember to log in to e-LfH using the ‘Sign on with OpenAthens’ button.

OR should you not wish to use NHS HEI OpenAthens to log in to e-LfH;

Click on ‘Register’ and enter your CCCU email address. In a short while, you will receive an email from e-LfH confirming your username and a weblink to set a new password. Once you have changed your password, you will be able to log in to the portal directly. The first time you log in, you will be asked to accept Terms & Conditions and confirm your details, then you will be taken to your home area where you can access and record your e-learning.

NHS Core Content Databases and e-Journals

Databases available include AMED, EMCARE and HMIC amongst others. View the list of nationally purchased content for full details. Log in to the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub to search the databases and, where available, access links to full text journals. View the Introduction to NHS Knowledge and Library Hub video for more information.

Help and support

For enquiries about your account please contact your NHS HEI OpenAthens administrator: Kate Davies, Learning & Research Librarian, Canterbury Christ Church University.

At CCCU, your librarian will support you in using resources provided by CCCU LibrarySearch. For advice on using the NHS HEI OpenAthens resources, check the Help information on the homepage of the resource you are using.