Removing patients from the practice list

Although GPs do have a right to remove patients from their lists, they cannot do so arbitrarily

A small but significant number of complaints are referred to the second stage every year because practices have removed patients from their lists after they made a complaint. In many of these cases the complaint is upheld because the practice concerned had not adhered to its policy for removal from the list (or did not have a policy in place).

Although GPs do have a right to remove patients from their lists, they cannot do so arbitrarily. GMC guidance is very clear on this matter. Moreover, current legislation governing NHS complaints – The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009, The Health Act 2009 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 – specifically prohibit NHS bodies from discriminating against patients because they have complained about the service they received.

For more detailed information on this topic, see the MPS factsheet “Removing Patients from the Practice List”. You can request a hard copy via publications@mps.org.uk or on 0113 241 0530.