Trusts asking practices to identify overseas patients when referring
We are aware some practices are receiving messages from hospital trusts asking for assistance in identifying overseas patients at the point of referral.
We would like to remind practices that there is no contractual obligation for GP practices to provide this information and it is up to the trust to determine eligibility to secondary care services. It is important that GPs make referrals based on clinical judgement and need, rather than perceived eligibility.
According to NHS regulations, everyone is entitled to free access to primary care services including general practice. The regulations around access to NHS secondary care services for overseas visitors are more complicated, with different rules regarding urgent and necessary care compared to routine care.
Further information about eligibility is available on the migrant.health toolkit, including additional information for practices on supporting and treating patients from abroad.
We have already raised our concerns about the letter with the GPC. If you are aware of any such requests locally, please share them with us via comms@lmc.org.uk or our Beam2LMC app.
Last updated : 18 Sep 2019I want great care IT system (11 Nov 2015)
The new Co-ordinate My Care (CMC) IT system will launch on 24 November. There are important steps for GPs to take, particularly those who have not seen the pre-launch communications...Speaker's Corner - moustache aficionado Dr Tony Grewal looks at men’s health issues for "Movember" (11 Nov 2015)
This month moustache aficionado Dr Tony Grewal looks at men’s health issues for "Movember", Londonwide LMCs staff raised over £100 for the Movember charity. Tony writes: November is the month when...November 2015 newsletter now available (11 Nov 2015)
Londonwide LMCs NewsletterUpdate on successful resolution of first Christmas 2013 breach case (10 Nov 2015)
The legal challenge brought against breach notices issued by NHSE to practices who closed their doors on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve in 2013 has ended in a successful...Keeping on top of bureaucracy in your practice (09 Nov 2015)
Jeremy Hunt recently announced plans to cut bureaucracy in the health service, including ending the practice of hospitals referring patients who miss appointments back to GPs and consolidating the...Appeal: support the homeless this winter (09 Nov 2015)
Londonwide LMCs’ communications team recently met with Dr Paul O’Reilly and Practice Manager Tanya O’Brien of the Doctor Hickey Surgery in Westminster. Both spoke powerfully about the vulnerable groups...Provider development event round-up (06 Nov 2015)
Londonwide LMCs, in collaboration with Healthy London Partnership co-hosted an event on 4th November at the Kia Oval attended by over 100 representatives from emerging GP Provider Groups, CCGS and...Female Genital Mutilation Datasets briefing note (04 Nov 2015)
Practices are now legally required to report Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). The purpose of the data collection is to improve the NHS...PMS contract review update (03 Nov 2015)
This briefing is for information only for GMS practices This update follows our recent PMS briefing: in areas where CCGs have already moved to Level 3 co-commissioning, (fully delegated responsibilities)...Darzi report one year on - 'Primary care stretched to breaking point and still waiting for resources' (21 Oct 2015)
Dr Michelle Drage comments on the implementation of the Better Health for London (Darzi) report, to coincide with the one-year anniversary of its publication and the London: One Year On...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.
follow us on...
