Don’t risk being removed from your GP practice list.
What is a ‘ghost patient’?
A Ghost Patient is someone who has been incorrectly removed from their GP practice list during the NHS patient list validation process. This can happen if your details cannot be confirmed.
What do you need to know?
You may receive a letter from NHS England or Primary Care Support England (PCSE) as part of a routine process to check that GP patient records are accurate and up to date. This helps ensure GP practice lists remain correct.
Why does this matters to you?
Keeping GP patient lists up to date helps ensure:
- You stay registered with your GP and can access care
- You receive NHS communications, such as screening, vaccinations etc.
- Your Practice gets the correct funding to care for registered patients
What you need to do?
If you get a letter from NHS/PCSE asking you to confirm your details, please respond. DO NOT IGNORE IT.
- Follow the instructions in the letter
- Confirm your details are correct
- Let us know as soon as possible if you have moved
What happens if you do not respond?
If you do not respond, PCSE may remove you from the practice without you knowing it. If you get removed, you will not be able to get an appointment with a GP until you re-register.
Need help?
Contact your practice.
If you have friends or relatives who are patients, but have not contacted their practice in the last 3 years please encourage them to get in touch to update or confirm their details.