The family was found living on a waterlogged caravan site, the children were not attending school, were not registered with a doctor and the mother had no income.

BBC: Rapid rise in global family disputes

Among the lies were claims the defendant was an adviser to an EU commission on refugees and was registered as a doctor with the Medical and Dental Council of Pakistan.

BBC: Fake doctor Abdul Pirzada jailed over CV lies

Glaxo Wellcome says that, since television ads for its genital-herpes treatment, Valtrex, started late last year, it has received 600, 000 calls, many from people not even registered with a doctor.

ECONOMIST: Go on, it��s good for you

However, Dr Cundy said checking if an internet doctor is registered does not offer 100% protection to patients.

BBC: BMA wants internet prescribing ban

Ask your doctor or registered dietitian which vitamins are most important for your child, because single-vitamin supplements can sometimes taste better than multivitamins.

CNN: How do I give an autistic child vitamins?

Most children are registered with a family doctor, but Fizza Qureshi, who runs Project London for Doctors of the World, a charity, says this is getting harder as practice managers insist on proof of status first.

ECONOMIST: Migrant children

Thousands of patients in Milton Keynes have been registered with new GPs after their surgery unexpectedly closed following a doctor's resignation.

BBC: Willen Village Surgery closure left patients without GP

The leading doctor also called for a centralised point where all deaths in Scotland would be registered.

BBC: GPs' leader backs guidelines review

Thousands of patients registered at a GP surgery in Leicester have been given three weeks to find a new doctor after being told the site will close.

BBC: NHS logo