Patient Alert - Beware of Scam Phone Calls 20th November 2025

NHS patients are being threatened with being removed from their GP surgeries in a new, frightening phone call that's spreading across the UK. The public is being urged to stay alert following reports of a new scam in which fraudsters impersonate receptionists and doctors in automated fake phone calls.

These calls are not genuine, however. The NHS will never contact patients by phone to demand updates to their records, threaten removal from a GP list, or request personal or financial information.

In an 'Important Patient Alert' issued by the NHS, the health service said: "We have been made aware of recent scam phone calls where individuals are falsely claiming to be from our GP practice. In these calls, the scammer may say that if you do not 'update your records' over the phone, you will be removed from the practice list.

"They may ask for personal information, such as your address, NHS number, or bank details. Please be assured that we will only call you from our official practice phone number. If you’re unsure, you can always hang up and call us back using the number listed on our website.

"We will never threaten to remove you from our patient list during a phone call unless our zero-tolerance policy has been breached, and never due to your not sharing information. We will never ask for your financial information."

Cybersecurity expert and IT security professional Javvad Malik, who is the lead CISO advisor at KnowBe4, explained that such scams succeed because they manipulate authority, urgency and emotion. He says these are three triggering constructs designed to prompt victims to act without thinking.

What should you do if you receive one of these calls?

• Do not engage or provide any information.
• Hang up immediately.
• Contact your GP practice directly using the number listed on their website or appointment letters - not the one provided in the call.
• Never click on links or call back unknown numbers.

LATEST INFORMATION ON TIRZEPATIDE (MOUNJARO) FOR WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT

NHS Sussex ICB have published their position on Weight loss injections being prescribed on the NHS. 

Current rules on prescribing on NHS for weight loss medications from the GP are very strict, please do not contact the surgery requesting appointment for weight loss INJECTIONS medications from your GP. You will be contacted directly if you are eligible for direct access to them in the next 4-6 weeks. 

Qualifying criteria is a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or greater

https://www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-body-mass-index/calculate-bmi-for-adults/confirm-consent

AND four or more of the following diagnosed health conditions:

• type 2 diabetes

• Hypertension

• Cardiovascular disease

• Obstructive sleep apnoea

• Dyslipidaemia

We understand that some people may feel frustrated or disappointed if they are not eligible for INJECTION medication-based treatments directly from the GP but there are still other options avalible and we can offer support and help still.

Our local wellbeing hub can offer you the other options that must be tried 1st before considering Injections and other medication options.  please see our wellbeing hub

https://horsham.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk/

For further support to manage your weight please also click here Support to manage your weight  

Working with InHealth to provide the Lung Cancer Screening Programme for patients between 55-74 years of age a current or former smoker

We are working with InHealth to provide the Lung Cancer Screening Programme for patients aged between 55-74 years of age, a current or former smoker.  We want to reassure you that this is not a scam. InHealth are working alongside the NHS to encourage patients aged 55 to 74 to have their lungs checked. 

For further information please visit www.sussexlunghealthcheck.nhs.uk 

No immediate action is required, please note this is not a scam and to follow up direct with InHealth if or when they reach out to you.

The process will be:

·         Patients aged 55-74 years, a current or former smoker and registered with a GP, will receive an invite letter through the post in a yellow envelope from the NHS. This Is not a self-referral programme and they will be invited for their lung health check by letter.

·         Patients will be called by a patient care advisor within 14 days to complete an assessment over the telephone, which will take approximately 15 minutes.

·         During the telephone call patients will be asked questions about their overall lung health, lifestyle, family, and medical history.

·         Patients may then be invited to have a lung CT scan. 

·         Scans take place on mobile vans in community locations (Tesco Car Park, Broadbridge Heath)

·         Patient results will be sent by letter and if a follow up is needed the team will contact the patient to talk to them about what the next steps are. The TLHC programme in Sussex is being supported by the Brighton & Hove GP Federation.

·         If patients lungs are fine, they will be offered another health check in 2 years to see whether anything has changed.

The mobile screening unit will be situated in the Tesco extra Car Park at Broadridge Heath, Horsham.