Five million NHS 'ghost' patients expose GP system 'stuck in a bygone age'

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The NHS must drag general practice out of the paper-records era and allow patients to see GPs wherever they are, a leading doctor said last night after figures revealed five million "ghost patients" on surgery lists.Oxford University health expert, Professor Carl Heneghan, said the registration system was built for a pre-digital age and was struggling to cope with modern life as people move regularly for work and study.The professor, an urgent care GP, spoke out after figures showed there are around 63.4 million patients registered with GP practices in England, despite the population standing at 58.6 million.This means practices are receiving about £650million extra a year as they receive about £130 for every patient registered.

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TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The gap of almost five million registrations has raised fresh questions about whether NHS records are keeping pace with patients who die, move home, relocate for work, go to university, or emigrate.While the figures do not...

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