I can't believe they do this!

Summary of Main Points

• Warning about NHS texts/emails to confirm address: The speaker argues that messages (by text/email) from NHS / NHS England asking people to confirm their address should not be ignored, even though they look and feel like scams.
• Consequence claimed: removal from GP list: The core allegation is that if patients do not respond within a specified timeframe, they may be quietly removed from their GP (family doctor) practice list, potentially only becoming apparent when trying to book an appointment.
• Address verification may require biometric ID: Investigation by the speaker and a viewer is said to show that “simple” contact methods (phone/email) may not work reliably. The only effective method may be a facial scan / video face capture plus photo ID (and/or other identity data).
• False reassurance from GP practices: Even when patients call their GP and are told “everything is fine” or “you’re still on the list,” the speaker claims this may not fully protect them because the central NHS England process can still treat them as unverified unless the additional required steps are completed.
• NHS England process described as escalating: According to the video’s interpretation of NHS England guidance:
  1. If no response is received, GP practices may mark records as possibly outdated.
  2. Additional attempts to contact may occur.
  3. The practice may then update the address or remove the patient from the list if they can’t be contacted.
• Criticism and support from medical/press sources (as cited in the subtitles):
  • The British Medical Association (BMA) is said to describe it as an “aggressive list purge.”
  • The speaker claims 300,000+ people were removed from GP lists in a year.
  • The BMJ and BMA are cited as warning that the issue affects real patients, not just “ghost patients.”
  • The Guardian is cited as reporting harm to poor and vulnerable people, potentially reducing access to healthcare.
• Vulnerable groups at risk: The speaker emphasizes that the process could disproportionately harm:
  • Elderly people
  • People who can’t/won’t use technology
  • People without smartphones
  • People uncomfortable with facial recording or who may face ID/scan issues
• “Digital ID normalization” concern: The speaker frames this as part of a broader shift toward digital/biometric identity verification, implemented step-by-step under the guise of routine address confirmation.
• Data security and coercion concerns: The video raises concerns that facial scans and digital ID could create risks around:
  • Data privacy/security and potential misuse
  • Being “forced” into the biometric route when other listed options allegedly fail
  • Messages looking indistinguishable from scams (e.g., urgency/threats to lose access)
• Practical advice given:
  • Do not click links in messages until verified.
  • Navigate to the official NHS website and find the correct address-confirmation instructions.
  • The speaker still suggests speaking to the GP, but stresses that GP reassurance may not replace the separate central verification requirement.
• Extra suspicion about motives: The speaker speculates it may be connected to reducing waiting lists, arguing that removed patients no longer appear in systems/waiting metrics.

Presenters / Contributors

• Daniel Shansmith (Blackbelt Barrister / Blackbelt Secrets channel)