§ 14. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the number of patients on doctors' lists in 1473 inner London exceeds by over half a million the total population of inner London; and what action he is taking to remedy this discrepancy.
§ Sir K. JosephThis is mainly because patients' names sometimes remain on doctors' lists after they have moved away from the area. The Inner London Executive Council is supplementing the normal checks by special action, including writing to verify the registration particulars of all patients who have been on the registers for more than six months, except where these particulars have been recently confirmed in some other way. Something like three million letters will be needed, so this is a lengthy task.
§ Mr. LiptonIs this not a quite crazy and indefensible state of affairs? How many thousands of pounds have been poured into the pockets of doctors at the taxpayers' expense in respect of this vast number of ghost patients?
§ Sir K. JosephThe problem of keeping pace with patients who move from one practice to another without notifying the executive council has been with us ever since the beginning of the National Health Service. I hope that the current discussions between the BMA and my Department, and the check to which I have referred, will bring about some improvement.