Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2019 to Question 234719 on Primary Health Care, if his Department will develop a mandatory national Inclusion Health training and communication strategy to ensure that all GP receptionists and practice managers are aware of their responsibilities to patients with no fixed address, no identification or no proof of immigration status.

The Primary Medical Care Policy and Guidance Manual for local commissioners managing general practitioner (GP) services is clear on inclusion in registration for GP services. People do not need to provide proof of address to register with a general practice.

We are aware, via Refugee Action, of instances where individual practices may have excluded patients with no documentation from registering with a GP. NHS England are raising these issues with local commissioners to ensure appropriate and targeted action, including training/education, reinforced if required by contractual action, to prevent a recurrence.