Don’t become a GP ghost patient: check you are still registered

Posted on August 28th, 2026

What is a ghost patient?

A ghost patient is someone who remains on the practice list despite having moved away or otherwise no longer being an active patient.

What you need to know – NHS list validation

You may receive a letter from NHS England or Primary Care Support England (PCSE). This is part of a routine process called list validation (or list cleansing). It helps ensure GP records are accurate across England.

Why this matters to you

Keeping a patient list correct helps GPs to ensure:

You stay registered and can see your own GP when you need to.

You get important letters, including for screening, vaccinations etc.

The Practice gets the right funding to care for their patients.

What you need to do

If you or someone you care for gets a letter, text or other message from NHS/PCSE, please respond. DO NOT Ignore it.

• Follow the instructions in the letter.
• Confirm your details are correct.
• Respond within the deadline, usually 30 days for reponses via the online form, or contact us.

What happens if you do not respond

if you do not respond and PCSE cannot confirm your details:

• They may remove you from us without you even knowing it.
• if you get removed, you will not be able to get an appointment with any GP unitl you re-register.

Need help

Contact us via telephone at 0116 254 3253. or email: highfieldsurgery.noreply@nhs.net to confirm your registration status as well as update your contact details.

If you have firends or relatives who are patients, but have not contacted their practice in the last 3 years please encourgae them to get in touch to update or confirm their details.