14/07/2026
👻 Have you heard of a "ghost patient"?
A ghost patient is someone who is still registered with a GP practice even though they've moved away or are no longer an active patient.
To help keep GP records accurate, NHS England and Primary Care Support England (PCSE) regularly carry out a process called list validation (sometimes known as list cleansing).
📋 What does this mean for you?
You may receive a letter, text or other message asking you to confirm your details.
Keeping patient records up to date helps to ensure:
🩺 You stay registered with your GP and can access care when you need it.
💌 You receive important invitations for screenings, vaccinations and other NHS services.
💷 GP practices receive the correct funding to provide care for the patients they look after.
This is why it is extremely important to keep your contact details up to date with your GP practice. If your address, phone number or other details change, please let us know as soon as possible so we can contact you when needed and help ensure your registration remains accurate.
✅ If you receive a message, please don't ignore it!
Simply:
✔️ Follow the instructions provided.
✔️ Confirm your details are correct.
✔️ Respond before the deadline stated in the letter or message (deadlines may vary depending on how you're contacted).
⚠️ What happens if you don't respond?
If PCSE cannot confirm your details, you could be removed from your GP practice list without even realising it.
If this happens, you'll need to re-register with your GP practice before you can book appointments or access routine GP services.
📢 Please help spread the word! If you have friends or family who are registered with our practice but haven't been in touch with us for the last few years, encourage them to check their details are correct on the NHS app and respond to any correspondence from NHS England or PCSE.
