Are you still registered with your GP?

[Mups]

I read in the paper the other day that the NHS is asking GP's to take any patients off their books if they haven't been to the doc's for some time.
It is thought to be a 'cost cutting measure'  because GP surgeries are paid for each patient they have on their books.
Only thing is that the software used to carry out this 'cull'  can be over-zealous and many elderly patients have been kicked out of their surgery,  and  won't be able to book an appointment if they need one!

The article suggested that anyone who hasn't been to their GP for a while  (it didn't say how long), ought to check they are still on their surgery's books.


Here's a bit more:

The NHS is conducting routine "list cleansing" exercises across England to remove "ghost patients"—individuals who haven't been seen in a long time, moved away, or left the country. Patients who do not respond to letters or messages confirming their details risk being automatically deregistered .

[klondike]

I imagine most of the elderly will have repeat prescriptions that need to be reordered. Those will also be reviewed annually and that will surely keep them on the books

This sounds more like a scare story than a real problem to me. It could lead to younger people or itinerants of any age being deregistered but that is up to them.

[Ashy]

I've been informed several times that I have been de-registered owing to the distance from the surgery. It's about 200 yards away, if that, and they don't make any house calls anyway. I've always written back and told them that if I am not ill it is my usual practice not to go to the doctor's. But I guess now they don't attend the sick and dying they have to find ways to check that we are still alive.

[Raven]

Never heard of that before, but I get my repeat prescriptions every other month, plus my yearly bloods, BP, weight, etc etc. So I should be ok I hope, Dunc on the other hand, too healthy for his own good.

[Mups]

I imagine most of the elderly will have repeat prescriptions that need to be reordered. Those will also be reviewed annually and that will surely keep them on the books

This sounds more like a scare story than a real problem to me. It could lead to younger people or itinerants of any age being deregistered but that is up to them.

Seems to be true though, Klondie.   
See this from the BMA themselves -


https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/gp-service-provision/focus-on-gp-list-cleansing-june-2026

[klondike]

I won't dispure that GP lists are being tidied. What I simply can't see is how patients that actually use their GP are being removed from lists. Ashy has already mentioned that he is not a regular user but he gets a letter if they are about to remove his name and I imagine that would be the case for all that still live at the address they are registered under.

All the BMA seems to be bothered about is losing funding for patients the doctors never actually interact with and bewailing that if they don't respond to notification in 3 months rather than the earlier 6 months they are removed from the list. Perhaps they should be paid for each consultation or treatment rather than getting money for having people on their books - that might make them more keen on seeing their patients rather than putting them off.

Seems a good ides that my tax money doesn't pay GPs for such patients. Amazing this wasn't done sooner.

[Raven]

I don't know what GPs actually do these days, so much of what they used to do is farmed out to other places now. My annual check this year was a pain, it's usually done by one of the Practice Nurses in the Thurso Surgery, but this year I had to drive for 20 miles to another building for it. I, along with a lot of others were pretty angry about it. Also if you phone for an appointment, the Staff Rottweilers will try to palm you off to the Chemist.
Gone are the Family Doctor Days.

[Scrumpy]

I have had no such letter..
It would seem they are just clearing out their deadwood..
The dentist is the same.. If you don't use them you lose them..

[muddy]

Oh crikey 
I hardly ever see a doctor ( although I do know people who have managed to get an appointment ) 
I have been ignoring invitations to get injections for this that and they other too .
No doubt they will kick me off just when everything gives up and I need medical attention .