Health

NHS facing surge in ghost patients inflating GP list discrepancies

Monday, 27 October 2025 5:06AM UTC

Nearly five million phantom patients are registered across England’s GP practices, exposing systemic issues in patient data management and funding allocations amid calls for accelerated digital reforms and improved data accuracy.

GP surgeries in England are reportedly registering an unprecedented number of 'ghost patients'—individuals who do not exist on their lists but for whom the practices receive payments. According to an investigation by the Daily Mail, almost 5 million such phantom patients are currently registered nationally, marking a 95% increase over the past decade. The total number of registered patients stands at 63.8 million, while the estimated population is closer to 58.8 million, creating a substantial discrepancy that has fuelled concerns about inefficiencies and funding misallocations in the NHS. At an average payment of £169.74 per registered patient, GP practices could be receiving about £838 million annually for non-existent patients, funds that could otherwise be channelled into vital healthcare resources such as nurse training.

This scale of inflation in patient lists is not localized. Parts of England, including North West London and regions like Humber and North Yorkshire, are showing disparities where registered patient numbers exceed actual population estimates by over 20%, with some areas approaching or exceeding 30%. Such wide-ranging discrepancies point to systemic issues rather than isolated cases.

The underlying causes, according to authoritative voices including the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the British Medical Association (BMA), stem primarily from records management challenges rather than deliberate financial misconduct by GP practices. Dr Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, Vice Chair of the RCGP, emphasised that maintaining accurate patient lists depends heavily on receiving timely and precise information about patient movements. Without this, list inflation can occur naturally. Similarly, BMA representatives warn against blaming GPs, who are already operating under significant workload pressures, for the presence of ghost patients. They also highlight that government funding levels are inadequate to meet current demands, and inflated lists do not equate to profitable practices.

Investigations into the issue have been periodically conducted. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority began scrutiny in 2019 after detecting anomalies but paused the work due to data challenges and resource shifts during the Covid pandemic. Despite this, there is acknowledgment that a minority of practices might deliberately retain invalid patient records for financial or political reasons, inflating patient-to-GP ratios used in funding and staffing negotiations.

Efforts to remedy the problem include stricter controls introduced in September 2023, such as Primary Care Support England (PCSE), managed by an outsourcing firm, flagging patients potentially no longer at their registered addresses. Practices now have shorter windows to confirm patient status, aiming to improve list accuracy. However, critics argue that the pace of digital transformation within the NHS is slow and that bureaucratic inertia persists, hampering more effective reforms.

Political figures and healthcare analysts alike have voiced frustration over the ongoing challenges. Shimeon Lee of the TaxPayers' Alliance called the situation a 'damning indictment' of NHS bureaucracy, while Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, warned that without faster digital progress and cultural change, ghost patients will continue to 'haunt' the healthcare system. The Health Foundation's Dr Luisa Pettigrew noted that discrepancies in patient registration are exacerbated by population mobility and delayed data updates, with some regions experiencing greater mismatches than others.

The fallout touches on wider NHS policy debates as well, with GPs warning of their workload strains amid new requirements for continuous online appointment requests, provoking tensions with government officials over resourcing and safe practice limits.

Regional cases such as those in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, exhibit similar patterns with tens of thousands of ghost patients inflating patient lists, according to local NHS and census data. In each case, the RCGP stresses that these figures reflect administrative issues rather than any attempt at fraud or profiteering.

Overall, while the monetary sums involved are substantial, the core concern remains the integrity and accuracy of patient data within GP lists. Reliable records are crucial not only for fair funding but also for ensuring that healthcare services are appropriately planned and delivered. Addressing this issue will require sustained technological investment, improved data sharing protocols, and a clearer prioritisation of digital transformation within the NHS framework.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Daily Mail), ^[2] (Independent), ^[3] (Standard), ^[7] (Irish News)
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Daily Mail), ^[5] (Alton Herald), ^[6] (Worksop Guardian)
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (Daily Mail), ^[4] (RCGP), ^[1] (Daily Mail - BMA comments)
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Daily Mail - NHS Counter Fraud Authority), ^[1] (Daily Mail)
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] (Daily Mail - PCSE system and reform), ^[1] (Daily Mail - political commentary)
Paragraph 6 – ^[1] (Daily Mail - Political and health think tank quotes), ^[4] (RCGP)
Paragraph 7 – ^[5] (Alton Herald), ^[6] (Worksop Guardian), ^[4] (RCGP)
Paragraph 8 – ^[1] (Daily Mail), ^[4] (RCGP)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-15166933/5MILLION-ghost-patients-registered-GP-surgeries.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/ghost-patients-gp-nhs-fraud-b2471970.html - The Independent reports that the number of 'ghost patients'—individuals registered with GP practices who may not exist—has risen by 61% over the past five years. NHS Digital data indicates 62.9 million patients were registered at GP practices in England as of November 1, 2023, compared to an estimated population of 57.1 million, suggesting approximately 5.8 million ghost patients. This discrepancy could result in GP surgeries receiving millions of pounds for patients who may not be real. The Royal College of GPs attributes this issue to records management challenges rather than deliberate profiteering by surgeries.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/gps-england-office-for-national-statistics-nhs-digital-royal-college-of-gps-b1129817.html - The Standard highlights a 61% increase in the number of 'ghost patients' registered with GP practices over the last five years. NHS Digital figures show 62.9 million patients were registered at GP practices in England on November 1, 2023, compared to Office for National Statistics estimates of 57.1 million people in England in 2022, indicating around 5.8 million ghost patients. GP surgeries receive payments for patients on their list, meaning practices could be receiving millions of extra pounds for people who may not be real. The Royal College of GPs states that this is a records management issue, not deliberate profiteering.
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/news/ghost-patients-gp-practices - The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) addresses the issue of 'ghost patients'—discrepancies between the estimated population size and the number of people registered at GP practices. RCGP Vice Chair Dr Victoria Tzortziou-Brown explains that GP practices strive to keep their patient lists up-to-date, but this relies on timely and accurate information about patient movements. She emphasises that 'ghost patients' are a records management issue and not a case of surgeries deliberately profiting by keeping patients on their lists when they shouldn't be there.
https://www.altonherald.com/news/gp-surgeries-in-hampshire-and-the-isle-of-wight-could-have-more-than-100000-ghost-patients-658251 - Alton Herald reports that GP surgeries in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight could be receiving payments for more than 100,000 'ghost patients'. NHS Digital figures show 1.96 million patients were registered at GP surgeries in the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board area as of November 1, 2023, compared to Office for National Statistics population figures from the census suggesting 1.82 million people lived in the same area in 2021, indicating approximately 133,000 ghost patients. The Royal College of GPs states that this is a records management issue, not deliberate profiteering.
https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/people/gp-surgeries-in-nottingham-and-nottinghamshire-could-have-more-than-100000-ghost-patients-4464918 - Worksop Guardian reports that GP surgeries in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire could be receiving payments for more than 100,000 'ghost patients'. NHS Digital figures show 1.27 million patients were registered at GP surgeries in the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board area as of November 1, 2023, compared to Office for National Statistics population figures from the census suggesting 1.15 million people lived in the same area in 2021, indicating approximately 119,000 ghost patients. The Royal College of GPs states that this is a records management issue, not deliberate profiteering.
https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/61-jump-in-number-of-ghost-patients-registered-with-gp-practices-QNNSNGMK7BIGDPFPZZ3XEXH7AU/ - The Irish News reports a 61% increase in the number of 'ghost patients' registered with GP practices over the last five years. NHS Digital figures show 62.9 million patients were registered at GP practices in England on November 1, 2023, compared to Office for National Statistics estimates of 57.1 million people in England in 2022, indicating around 5.8 million ghost patients. GP surgeries receive payments for patients on their list, meaning practices could be receiving millions of extra pounds for people who may not be real. The Royal College of GPs states that this is a records management issue, not deliberate profiteering.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative reports a 95% increase in 'ghost patients' over the past decade, with the most recent data from October 27, 2025. Similar reports from January 2024 indicate a 61% rise over five years. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/ghost-patients-gp-nhs-fraud-b2471970.html?utm_source=openai)) The Daily Mail's report is current and not recycled. However, the Independent's report from January 2024 provides earlier data, suggesting the Daily Mail's report is based on updated figures. The Independent's report is based on an investigation by the PA news agency, which may have been the original source. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/ghost-patients-gp-nhs-fraud-b2471970.html?utm_source=openai)) The Daily Mail's report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/ghost-patients-gp-nhs-fraud-b2471970.html?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The Daily Mail's report includes quotes from Dr Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, Vice Chair of the Royal College of GPs, and BMA representatives. The Independent's report from January 2024 also includes similar quotes from Dr Tzortziou-Brown. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/ghost-patients-gp-nhs-fraud-b2471970.html?utm_source=openai)) The presence of identical quotes in earlier material suggests potential reuse. However, no online matches were found for the specific wording of the quotes in the Daily Mail's report, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The Daily Mail is a widely read UK newspaper, but its reputation for accuracy is often questioned. The Independent is also a reputable UK newspaper. The Royal College of GPs and the BMA are authoritative bodies in the healthcare sector. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority is a government agency responsible for investigating fraud in the NHS. The TaxPayers' Alliance is a UK-based pressure group advocating for lower taxes and public spending. The Health Foundation is an independent charity focused on improving health and care in the UK. The presence of these reputable sources strengthens the reliability of the narrative.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claim of 5 million 'ghost patients' in England is plausible, supported by data from NHS Digital and reports from reputable sources. The Royal College of GPs attributes the issue to records management challenges rather than deliberate financial misconduct. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/ghost-patients-gp-nhs-fraud-b2471970.html?utm_source=openai)) The TaxPayers' Alliance expresses concern over potential misuse of funds, while the Health Foundation highlights the impact on healthcare resources. The narrative aligns with known issues in the NHS and is consistent with previous reports.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative presents current and plausible information about the issue of 'ghost patients' in England, supported by reputable sources. While some quotes may have been reused from earlier reports, the overall content appears original and timely. The Daily Mail's report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The presence of authoritative sources such as the Royal College of GPs, the BMA, and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority adds credibility to the narrative.

NHS
GP surgeries
healthcare funding