The NHS is to press on with a plan to remove patients from GP lists if they have not been in touch for five years, it was reported today.

Patients will get two letters giving them a chance to confirm they want to stay on the list – otherwise they will be removed.

NHS England has awarded the job of purging “ghost” patients to contractors Capita, it was reported.

Practices will be expected to supply lists of patients who have not been in contact for five years.

The idea has been tested in the East of England amid controversy. But NHS England says it has been successful at identifying people who have moved away.

But Dr Robert Morley, from the British Medical Association, called for the scheme to be scrapped.

He told the Guardian: “Patients have a right to be registered unless they move or register elsewhere, even if they don’t need to or choose not to access services.

“NHS England should abandon this exercise, which will have the inevitable consequences of disruption for patients and a reduction of core funding disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable practices.”

A spokesman for NHS England said: “The National Audit Office and House of Commons public accounts committee have all drawn attention to the need to ensure accurate patient lists, and for proper stewardship of public funds.”

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