At School Lane Surgery, we want everyone to stay connected to the care they need. That is why we are asking patients across Thetford to look out for NHS letters asking them to confirm their home address and, if one arrives, to take action.
The letter may be headed “You need to confirm your home address with the NHS”. Even if you have lived at the same address for years, please do not put it aside assuming there is nothing to do. The NHS needs you to confirm that the details it holds are correct.
Why are these letters being sent?
NHS England is carrying out a national programme to check that GP patient lists are accurate. These letters come directly from NHS England, rather than School Lane Surgery.
You may receive one because NHS records suggest that your address could be incorrect, or that you may have moved home or left the country. Keeping this information accurate helps protect your personal information and ensures that important letters reach you.
Receiving a letter does not mean you have done anything wrong. It simply means you need to check the information and respond.
What do I need to do?
Read the letter carefully and follow its instructions before the deadline shown.
The letter explains how to confirm your address online using an NHS account. It says this should take less than five minutes.
If you cannot use the online service, the letter provides telephone instructions. This option is for people who are still in the UK and whose home address has not changed.
If you have moved, please contact the surgery to update your details. Depending on where you now live, you may need to register with a surgery closer to your new home.
If you are unsure what the letter means or need help understanding what to do, please speak to our reception team promptly.
What happens if I do not respond?
The letter explains that NHS England will begin the process of removing you from your GP surgery’s patient list if you do not respond by the stated deadline.
At School Lane Surgery, we have seen patients discover they are no longer registered when they contact us after some time without needing our services. We want to help prevent this unexpected difficulty.
You do not need to book an appointment simply to stay registered. However, you should respond when the NHS asks you to confirm your details.
If you discover you have been removed, please contact us. We can check your circumstances and help with the next steps. Re-registration can take time, so please tell us if you need medical care while this is being resolved.
Help us stay in touch
Please let us know whenever your address, telephone number or email address changes. If a letter arrives, respond even if everything is still correct.
A few minutes checking and confirming your details can help keep you connected to your surgery, your care and important NHS information.