A loophole in the medical system is being investigated amid fears temporary residents in the East Riding can register at more than one doctor’s practice at a time.
Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said he had been told some people who lived for part of the year in temporary accommodation or caravans were abusing the system and could even be getting several prescriptions filled at different practices.
He said: “While I am sure the vast majority of people would not attempt to do anything illegal, there is the possibility that valuable prescription drugs paid for by the NHS are ending up on the black market.
Currently a person is able to register as a temporary resident (TR) if they are temporarily living away from their normal place of residence for more than 24 hours but not more than three months.
The person should not seek to be registered as a TR with more than one doctor. A doctor, when deciding whether to accept a patient as a TR, should also satisfy himself the patient is not being provided with essential services anywhere else in the locality.
When registered as a TR a patient may be prescribed medicines deemed necessary by the GP in relation to the patient’s medical condition.
Graham said: “Recently a constituent raised this alarming issue with me and I immediately contacted the PCT and the police.
“The police have told me they are keeping an eye on the situation and I am glad to see the PCT is taking action to monitor TRs.”
A statement from the PCT, in response to Graham’s concerns, said: “If NHS East Riding of Yorkshire (NHS ERY) becomes aware a patient is attempting to register inappropriately as a TR with a number of practices for the purpose of obtaining prescription drugs to sell ‘on the street’ this would be reported to the local counter fraud team and to the police.
“NHS ERY is aware, from recent internal audit work that the level of control over TRs registering with more than one practice has reduced. This follows changes to the payment arrangements for TR at GP practices which was introduced in the ‘new’ GP contract in 2004 and also no longer requires NHS ERY to maintain a central record of TR claims.”
And the statement added: “The audit work also highlighted the level of checks carried out by practices to satisfy them patients are not receiving services as a TR from more than one practice varied. In an effort to improve controls in this area, NHS ERY is developing patch wide guidance and processes for the registration of TRs. This will include recommendations for the verification of patients based on the good practice identified at some practices. It is intended that the patch wide guidance will be issued to practices during the early part of the New Year.”
