THOUSANDS of people across Swindon and Wiltshire will be removed from GP databases if they do not respond to an NHS England letter within weeks.

The initiative, from commissioning body NHS England, aims to ensure the accuracy of patient information on databases and help patients receive support from their GP in a bid to spend taxpayers’ money more efficiently.

In June, letters were sent to selected patients across Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. They were then given two months to respond before the removal process begins.

The four groups of patients who will be checked are men aged 25 to 55, people who have not responded to calls and recalls, students aged between 22 and 24 and immigrants registered for longer than 25 months.

Patients who are removed from a practice list will not be called for health checks, women will not receive appointments for breast and cervical cancer screening and children may miss out on vital immunisations.

But Dr Richard Carter, a GP at the Whalebridge Practice in Carfax Street, Swindon, said people can re-register if they are removed.

“People who are removed this way are welcome to re-register and we would encourage them to do so,” he said.

“However, some Swindon practices have had to close for new registrations and in these cases patients may not be able to rejoin the same practice they used before.”

The Whalebridge practice has stressed the importance of responding to the letter after research revealed two-thirds of patients added to a removal list were still living in the area.

The practice also warned that if patients have moved and not informed a practice of their new address, they may not receive a letter, but could still be automatically deleted from the database.

Dr Gavin Jamie, also a GP at Whalebridge, added: “We would urge people to make sure that their address, and those of their family members, are up to date. We would also ask them to check their post carefully and remind other family members to do so if they fall into one of the targeted groups.”

If address details are unchanged patients can confirm this to NHS England by telephone, post or on the internet. If details have changed the letter includes a form to send back in the enclosed envelope.

Debra Elliott, director of commissioning at NHS England, South, said: “It’s really important that GP practices can maintain accurate lists of the patients they serve, and for this reason we call on everyone who receives a letter to let us know their contact details are correct. You will be supporting your practice to provide the best possible service.” to all its patients and ensuring the NHS uses its resources efficiently.”