18
Jun 2019
GPs to be investigated by NHS fraud squad over ‘ghost patients’
Investigations are underway over suspicions that GPs are claiming for non-existent patients.
GPs currently receive around £150 a year for each patient on their list, but records have shown that in 2018, there were 3.6 million more patients on the system than there were people in England. On average, a GP has around 1,700 patients on their books and these payments make up a significant chunk of their income.
This discrepancy drove NHS England to pursue these non-existent patients, and an independent investigation is also being launched by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority.
Leaders amongst the field have historically maintained that the issue of non-existent patients usually has an innocent explanation, for example where patients have died or moved address without informing their GP.
The investigation is currently focused on patients who have not visited their GP for five years or longer. Following unsuccessful attempts to contact these patients, they have been deregistered from the practice.
The fraud team however, have found some anomalies which have raised suspicions and they will now undertake a complete analysis of records held by NHS England to determine whether doctors have been fraudulently claiming for patients.
Susan Frith, fraud chief of the NHS, said “By preventing fraud, by identifying it and tackling it effectively where it occurs, and by seeking to recover moneys lost to fraud, we can ensure that precious NHS funds are used for their intended purpose of patient care.”
The British Medical Association’s Dr Richard Vautrey, said it would be wrong to jump to conclusions, adding “Some of these will be people that have recently died, or left the country, others may be homeless or simply unaccounted for in government statistics, and we would be concerned at any suggestion that any discrepancies are down to wilful deception by hard-working GPs.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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