Two-thirds of GPs refuse to register homeless patients

Two-thirds of GP practices from a sample of 100 in London declined to register a patient without an address, contrary to national rules which are meant to ensure homeless and excluded people can get healthcare, HSJ has found.

NHS England guidance states anyone can register with a GP without proof of address, and that people without a permanent address “can still register using a temporary address or the address of the GP surgery”.

Practices normally need to record an address, but the exception rule is meant to ensure people who are homeless, or living in unstable or short-term accommodation, are still able to access primary care or referrals for secondary services.

Despite this, when HSJ called 100 randomly selected practices in London (about 9 per cent of the total), 64 refused to register the caller.

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Source: HSJ, 19 June 2023