GPs and Smartcards in England

we advise that every GP should have a card to avoid problems with Exeter and IOS payments

NHS Connecting for Health (CfH) has informed LMCs that in Spine release 2008-A, they will amend patient data in the Personal Demographic Service (PDS), such that the patient will be registered with the practice rather than a GP. This is to align the PDS with the 2004 GMS Contract Regulations.

In the course of preparing the Spine update, CfH has identified that a number of GPs have not registered for a smartcard. Whilst this is their prerogative, it is possible that their lack of registration could lead to problems in them being identified by the "Exeter" payments agency for Item of Service type payments and for the maintenance of their patient lists.

We don't know the number of GPs in Wessex that this might apply to, but those without smartcards will be contacted in the next few weeks asking them to consider applying for a card. Our advice would be that it would be a sensible step to get a card - the level of usage is another matter.