Right, but why are private practices artificially limited for whom they can bill the NHS? That seems like pointless, unnecessary bureaucracy that comes back to bite them with more A&E visits.
I'm guessing because each one is only set up to bill a particular NHS Trust? But you're right, it should be possible keyed just off an NI number or something.
There is a hospital in my town but it's A&E was closed in 2007 IIRC, so if you can't see a GP you can't even go there, you have to drive a couple of towns over.
I'm not sure they are. Here's the (admittedly complex) book: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/primary-medical-care-...
Note this is only for England. I have no idea about the rest of the UK.