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Performers Lists

The process for performers to gain entry and make status changes to the National Performer Lists will be changing.

Click here to read more.

 

There are three national performers lists operated by NHS England – one for medical, dental and ophthalmic performers. The lists provide an extra layer of reassurance for the public that GPs, Dentists and Opticians practicing in the NHS are suitably qualified, have up to date training, have appropriate English language skills and have passed other relevant checks such as with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and the NHS Litigation Authority.

PCSE is responsible for administering entry and status changes to performers lists on behalf of NHS England. The decision to admit or decline an applicant to the National Performers Lists is the responsibility of NHS England.

If you have an enquiry regarding the performers lists, please email pcse.performerlists@nhs.net.

Easy steps to Performers Lists applications

Applying to join the Performers Lists for the first time

Important information regarding Disclosure and Barring Service checks:

  • Applicants need to be aware of the importance of getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check early, and in advance of making an NPL1 application. It can take up to eight weeks to obtain a DBS certificate, and an application cannot be progressed without one.
  • Applicants need to register for the online DBS online update service within 30 days of the DBS certificate being issued

Important note to GP Trainees

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Step One – Application form and supporting documents

To apply for entry onto a performers list, you will need to complete the NPL1 National Performer List Application form which can be downloaded at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/primary-care-commissioning/performer-list-policies-and-procedures/

As well as sending a completed NPL1 form, you will need to send evidence of a DBS check and provide references in order to complete your application.  Further information on this can be found on the NPL1 National Performer application form.

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Step Two – Submitting your application

Your application form should be emailed to PCSE at pcse.performerlists@nhs.net, putting NPL 1 in the email subject line. Please ensure that your application is signed before submitting to PCSE.

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Step Three – Application form checks

Once you have submitted your application, the PCSE performers lists team will check that your application form has been completed properly and will contact you if there is any missing information. Your application will then be passed to the PCSE National Engagement Team (NET) to organise a face-to-face meeting for identity checks and document verification.

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Step Four – Identification and document verification appointment

Once the NET team have received your application, a member of the team will contact you to arrange a face-to-face appointment and remind you of the documents you need to provide.

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Step Five – Processing the application

Following a successful face-to-face appointment, PCSE will start processing your application and complete the necessary background checks. PCSE will then send your application to the relevant NHS England local office, who will consider your application. The outcome of NHS England’s decision is sent to PCSE.

PCSE may contact you to request further information if the NHS England local office dealing with your application need this to help make their decision.

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Step Six – Notification and confirmation

PCSE will notify you of the outcome of the decision by post or email. If your application is approved, PCSE will notify you, and add you to the Performer List.

Routine applications take approximately 12 weeks to process from start to finish. If there are any issues, such as incomplete or missing documents, with the application checks the process will take longer.

Please note, performers can carry out NHS work as soon as they receive their inclusion letter and do not need to wait until their details are added on to the performers list website.

Primary care providers should speak to your NHS England local office to confirm the status of a performer in the absence of them being evident on the National Performers List website.

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Step One – Change notification form

To change your name, address, status or practice*, the performer will need to complete and return the NPL3 change notification form which can be downloaded at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/primary-care-commissioning/performer-list-policies-and-procedures/

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Step Two – Submitting your change notification form

The performer should email the completed NPL3 change notification form to PCSE at pcse.performerlists@nhs.net, putting NPL 3 in the email subject line. 

Please note: PCSE is not able to process NPL2 or NPL3 applications before the date the change becomes effective. However, Performers can submit requests to the PCSE Performers List team prior to the effective date of the change, and PCSE can begin to prepare the case by ensuring all necessary information has been provided.

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Movement to a different NHS England team

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Step One – Application form

If a performer moves between NHS England local offices, they will need to complete and return the NPL2 change notification form which can be downloaded from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/primary-care-commissioning/performer-list-policies-and-procedures/

Please note: If the movement also includes a change of practice and/or status, the performer will not need to complete an NPL3 change notification form in addition to the NPL2 form.

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Step Two – Submitting your change notification form

The performer should email the completed NPL2 change notification form to PCSE at pcse.performerlists@nhs.net, putting NPL 2 in the email subject line.

Please note: PCSE is not able to process NPL2 or NPL3 applications before the date the change becomes effective. However, Performers can submit requests to the PCSE Performers List team prior to the effective date of the change, and PCSE can begin to prepare the case by ensuring all necessary information has been provided.

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Step Three - Additional information required (for salaried GPs and GP Partners only) 

Please note: PCSE is unable to start processing a request until all the required documentation is received.

Once PCSE has received the completed NPL2 change notification form, PCSE will:

  • Email a declaration form to the performer’s current NHS England local office for them to complete and return

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FAQs

General enquiries

Change of status

GP registrars and Dental Foundation Trainees are already on the National Performers Lists when they conclude their training. Dental Foundation Trainees and GP Registrars can continue to work while the NPL3 form regarding their status change is being processed by PCSE.

General Practitioners    

GP registrars who have newly qualified can work as they are on the performers list and will be showing on the performers list website.  The individual can show they are qualified by producing their certificate of completed training (CCT)  This is also reflected on the GMC register which any employer can check if they so wish.

  1. GP Trainees legally cease to be trainees when the GP registrar achieves their CCT and the GMC register is updated.
  2. NHS England policy requires GP Trainees to provide evidence that they have completed their training and to complete a change in status form, enabling PCSE to update their status on the performers list.  If the GP registrar has evidenced this, they have fulfilled their obligations under the regulations and NHS England policy.
  3. The change in status on the Performers List itself does not require NHS England Medical Director (MD) / Responsible Officer (RO) approval as this is a routine administrative process.
  4. During this period of time, and in the event that an enquiry regarding their status is received from either the recently qualified trainee or an organisation wishing to use their service, MDs or their delegated officers should assure themselves that the trainee has completed their training by either checking the GMC register, and or liaising with HEE if they are a GP registrar. If the MD or their delegated officer can assure themselves via this route, there should be no reason why the trainee should not be permitted to practise independently whilst the administrative change in status is undertaken.

 

We will require a practice notification form from you. Please refer to the guidance on the Performers Lists page here.

We will require a practice notification form from you. Please refer to the guidance on the Performers Lists page here.

Please refer to the guidance on the Performers List page here.

The online National Performers Lists can be accessed at https://www.performer.england.nhs.uk/

PCSE is responsible for checking that any partners who have left a practice have had their patients redistributed to other GPs at the practice – this is part of NPL2 and NPL3 processing.

If you are contacted regarding this, please provide the details of how the patients need to be reallocated.

Practices can set up pooled lists which would avoid the need for the patient split to be communicated each time a partner leaves.

Setting up a pooled list

If your practice would like to set up a pooled list, please contact the Performers List team.

Go to www.pcse.england.nhs.uk/contact-us and select ‘Performers Lists’ from the drop down menu. In the message box please state your practice would like to set up a pooled list and ensure the following information is included in the submission:

  • Practice Code
  • Practice Name
  • Pooled List Name (usually this is the practice name) and start date.

The Performers List team then set up the practice on NHAIS and will contact the practice to discuss next steps in enabling the pooled list to be set up on their clinical systems.

Yes.  If you move to a new practice, a new GP code will be issued to you as part of the Performers List change  notification process.  Please do not use your old GP code once you move to a new practice, as this would result in new  patient registrations being assigned to your previous practice, and the patient’s medical records would be sent to your previous practice.

When an NPL 2 or NPL3 (change to circumstance or status) is processed for a new GP joining a practice, PCSE will send the performer a change notification confirmation letter which includes their prescribing number,  G referral code, and their local code. If you require these codes for performers in your practice, please ask them for a copy of this letter.

NPL forms are available to download from the NHS England website here.

The process for completing and submitting the forms to PCSE can be found on the PCSE website here.

Making a change to circumstance or status

Please refer to the guidance provided on the Performers Lists page here

It’s important to update us as soon as possible to keep the National Performers List accurate. Please refer to the guidance on the Performers List page here.

Please liaise with Health Education England to ensure PCSE are informed of any changes in circumstance at the earliest possible opportunity, including in particular change of practice, hours of work, maternity or sick leave.

It is a regulatory requirement for dental performers to notify NHS England of any changes to the details held about them on the National Performers List. 
PCSE is responsible for processing the following changes to the National Performers List: 

  • Change of personal details (name and contact details)
  • Change of local area team
  • Change of practice *
  • Withdrawal from the National Performers List

*Change of practice
With regards to practice changes, PCSE does not process employment updates for dental performers; this needs to be managed by the employer (i.e. the dental practice) via Compass. 
 
Whilst it is a regulatory requirement for performers to also notify PCSE of a practice change, there isn’t currently a simple means of recording this type of change on existing systems. 
 
As part of the service transformation programme, dental performers will be able to login to PCSE Online to notify of a change rather than complete an NPL2 or 3 form. When the new service is live, all practice changes can be updated directly on PCSE Online.

 
NHS England has therefore agreed that dental performers are not required to notify PCSE of a change to practice at this point in time. The requirement will be re-introduced once the new Performers List service has been rolled out.
 

 
Reminders will be shared closer to the launch of the new online service.

Change of practice contact details

Where a practice is changing its name only (i.e. not merging with another practice) they will need to inform PCSE once the change has been approved by the commissioning organisation.

Please go to the online enquiries form, and select ‘Performers List’ from the drop down menu. Please complete the details requested, and in the message box, please state that you wish to inform PCSE of a change to practice name that is not related to a practice merger. Please also attach/upload evidence from your commissioner that confirms the change of practice name and states whether the contract has been amended or does not require a change.

PCSE will then update our records to reflect the new practice name.

If the practice name is changing due to merger, please click here.

Where a practice is changing its address only (and not as part of a merger with another practice) they will need to inform PCSE once the change has been approved by the commissioning organisation.

Please go to the online enquiries form, and select ‘Performers List’ from the drop down menu. Please complete the details requested, and in the message box, please state that you wish to inform PCSE of a change to practice address that is not related to a practice merger. Please also attach/upload evidence from your commissioner that confirms the change of practice address.

PCSE will then update our records to reflect the new practice address.

If the practice address is changing due to merger, please click here.