Immediate Removal

The Special Allocation Scheme

The Special Allocation Scheme (SAS), previously known as the Violent Patient Scheme is an NHS England process designed to protect GP staff, other patients, and the public when a patient has shown violent, aggressive, or threatening behaviour.

You might also know this as Immediate Removal.

It ensures that patients who are removed from a GP practice for safety reasons still receive essential healthcare, but in a more controlled and secure environment.

The purpose of the Scheme is to:

• protect GPs and staff from violence or threats.
• ensure patients who have been removed due to such incidents continue to access primary care at a designated secure GP practice.
• fulfil NHS England's responsibility to ensure no patient is left without access to GP services, even after a serious incident.

About the Removal process

Practices can request a patient is removed immediately by completing an online form Request for Removal From Practice List

Please note: the Police Incident number must be supplied to PCSE either immediately or within 7 days of the removal request (if not available when the request is submitted). Please ensure this is clarified on the removal request if not immediately available.

Before submitting a request you should ensure that the circumstances meet the criteria set out by NHS England in the Primary Medical Care Policy and Guidance Manual (PGM) - Section 7. Special Allocation Scheme. PCSE is not responsible for determining if a patient meets the criteria for immediate removal, other than confirming the incident has been reported to the Police, this is the responsibility of the reporting practice.

Where the information provided does not meet the criteria the request will be rejected by PCSE and the GP directed to the PGM for further guidance on how to proceed. If you require any further guidance in regards to immediate removals, please contact your local commissioner. Please note that PCSE do not hold lists of commissioner details.

Historically, there have been local variations in the immediate removals process. NHS England directed that from 5 February 2018, all immediate removals will be processed by PCSE within 24 hours of receipt of notification from the GP practice.