GP Links Removals
I have deducted a patient under high security, but can't request a medical record label, as the patient is still registered with the practice. How can I rectify this?
Please email pcse.registrations-preston@nhs.net and provide the reason why you wanted the patient to be deducted and provide any new addresses, if applicable.
Deductions - how do I cancel a deduction request?
If you need to cancel a patient deduction request which you have sent to us via your clinical system, please note that removing the flag on your local clinical system will not update the request into PCSE.
To inform PCSE that you need to cancel a patient deduction request, please either email the registrations team at: pcse.registrations-preston@nhs.net putting ‘Cancellation of deduction request’ in the email subject line, or call PCSE on 0333 014 2884.
We have been informed that a patient has been sent to prison, do we need to deduct the patient?
A patient can remain registered with a GP practice if their sentence is less than 2 years.
If the patient has been incarcerated for over 2 years, then you can send a removal stating that the patient is in prison and it will be over 2 years. PCSE will then remove the patient immediately.
A patient has gone abroad for less than 3 months. Should I deduct the patient?
No, a patient can remain with the practice. You only need to remove a patient who has left the country for a period of over 3 months.
We have deducted a patient as deceased in error, what can we do?
You can either email PCSE at pcse.registrations-preston@nhs.net or alternatively contact the customer service centre on 0333 014 2884 to advise us that the patient is still alive.
Deductions - what should we do if a patient has moved out of our practice area and needs to register with a new practice?
Please do not deduct the patient under high security/security controlled procedures as this will only update your clinical system. It will not remove the patient on the PDS. All out of area requests should be submitted via the GP Links.
You should action the change of address by sending an amendment to PCSE via GP Links and request a deduction with a reason of ‘Other Reason’/’Left Area’ and in the free text state ‘moved out of area. If you are unable to update the address then you should include this in the free text message, including house number/name, street and postcode. If you do not know the patient’s forwarding address please enter ‘Address Unknown’.
Once the deduction is received, PCSE will place the patient on a pending deduction for 30 days. A letter will then be sent to the patient at their out of area address informing them they need to re-registered with a different GP practice. The deduction request will be rejected as the patient will only be deducted on the 30th day or upon a registration being received from a practice.
Please note, if the address is not known the patient will not be sent a letter.
Deductions - is a death an immediate removal?
An immediate removal is where there has been an incident involving the practice or practice staff where the police have been called. Requests for these should be submitting via the Patient Removals online form.
If an online form is submitted, we will contact you and ask you to submit the request via the GP Links. The patient will be removed immediately.
Deductions - I have received a death deduction for a patient via GP Links but have not received any information about the death, how do I know they have died?
When a patient dies, their death is recorded by the General Registry Office. This sets off a process to record the death on their PDS record which generates a deduction to your practice's clinical system.
PCSE are not made aware of details surrounding the death.
It is extremely rare, but a death notification can be recorded against the wrong patient. If you have reason to believe the patient is not deceased, please email pcse.registrations-preston@nhs.net and enquiries will be made with the National Back Office (NBO).
How do I inform PCSE of a patient's death?
Where a patient has died, the request for deduction should be made through the practice's clinical system.
We are unable to process removal requests submitted outside of GP Links e.g. online forms.
If a patient has moved out of area, but wants to stay at the practice, do we have to deduct and then re-register?
Yes, you will have to deduct and re-register the patient with the correct Out Of Area Registration (OOAR) standard text - find a list here.
Sending an address amendment with the OOAR free text will not set the patient correctly - learn more here.
Please note, you need to ensure that the correct message is sent in the GP notes. OOA means that the patient has left the area, OOAR means that the patient is an Out of Area Registration.