GP surgeries in Sussex could be receiving payments for almost 150,000 "ghost" patients, new figures suggest.
No, I know what you're thinking, this is not, however, patients that GP incompetence has killed off!
This is when more people are registered with GP practices in an area than the estimated population.
So those dragons guarding the front desks at GP practices aren't even doing the basic job of keeping proper records, are they?
The Royal College of GPs said practices "try hard to keep their patient lists" up to date and are not deliberately profiting by keeping more patients on their lists than are registered there. Some of the disparity could be down to changes in the local population, such as people moving away.
Which is a problem with all services, of course. But we pay GPs by the number of patients on their books.
The Taxpayers’ Alliance said the public is unfairly subsidising GP practices for patients who may not exist. It called for lists to be amended accordingly if the unknown users cannot be found.
And if they aren't, given we are talking about our money, perhaps stronger action is required?
As far as the NHS (pbui) is concerned I am still registered with a GP in Essex despite leaving there over 9 years ago. (I've not registered with one where I am in London.)
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall that there was a (proposed?) drive to remove anyone who hadn't been to a GP for a while from the local patient list (or something anyway). I'm guessing nothing came of it or GPs didn't want to lose the money.
"I'm guessing nothing came of it or GPs didn't want to lose the money."
ReplyDeleteMy bet is the latter!