Inactive patients on GP lists to be removed, Pulse reports

According to Pulse, patients who have not visited their GP in over five years will be remove from practice lists, under new plans being developed by NHS England.

The measures are currently being considered by NHS East of England and will involve contacting patients who have not been in contact with their GPs. If the patients do not respond to two letters, they will be taken off the practice list.

It informed local medical communities (LMC) that such patients may be in ‘incredibly good health’ or may ‘no longer require services.’

However, GP leaders have raised concerns about the proposals, claiming the move could disproportionately affect certain groups of patients, such as adolescents and men aged between 20-45, and create extra workload through enquiries.

NHS England argued that list validation is necessary ‘to protect NHS money and ensure patient lists are not artificially inflated.’

Commenting on the proposed plans, LMC said: “NHS England now wishes to add to practice’s burdens by demanding you identify all patients on your list who you have not seen for five years, as they believe ‘it is reasonable to deduce that this group may be the people who no longer require services’.

“Their letter says people who haven’t seen a GP for five years may be in ‘incredibly good health’, and would then be able to return a letter to the GP to confirm they wish to remain registered."

However, Andrea Patman, head of commissioning for NHS England (East), maintained: “Practices should not experience any increase in their work as [primary care contract services] will undertake this process on behalf of NHS England but, there may be a slight increase in patients contacting their practice for clarification of their action required.

“NHS England would like to clarify this exercise should not result in decreased access for moderately hard to reach groups.”