Can I Refer Myself to a Private Healthcare Provider?
Yes, you can! you don’t necessarily need a GP referral to see a private specialist. You’re free to contact a private provider directly to arrange an appointment. If you need a summary of your medical records to take with you, we can provide this at no charge. Please request via this link – Medical report/Letter request
Selecting Your Own Private Provider
We are unable to recommend or suggest specific private providers. Choosing the right provider is entirely up to you, as we must remain impartial and avoid showing preference to any service.
Switching from an NHS Referral to Private Care
We can provide the referral letter at no extra cost. The letter will be identical to the one originally prepared for the NHS referral.
Fees for Private Referral Letters and Insurance Documents
Some private providers might require a referral letter or completion of insurance documentation before offering treatment. We can handle these requests for you, but they are subject to a fee.
Tests and Medications Following a Private Consultation
It’s important to note that NHS GPs are not obliged to carry out tests or prescribe medications recommended by a private provider. Whether the private referral is initiated by you or your GP, we may decline such requests if they go beyond routine GP services or if they require specialist input. This means you might need to continue paying for private treatment or wait for an NHS specialist to take over your care.
- Tests and Investigations: NHS GPs are not required to carry out tests advised by a private provider, especially if they fall outside routine GP care or require specialist analysis. In these cases, the private provider is expected to manage the tests.
- Medications: We are not obligated to prescribe medications recommended by a private provider or convert a private prescription into an NHS one. However, if the medication aligns with standard GP care, we may consider issuing it, but this will be done according to our usual 3 full working day process.
What is Shared Care?
Shared care is a structured arrangement where both a GP and a specialist work together to manage ongoing treatment, typically defined by a formal agreement. This ensures that roles are clearly set out to provide coordinated care. However, for privately funded patients, shared care is generally not feasible due to the continuous consultant oversight it requires, which is not always guaranteed in private care settings.
Our Policy on Shared Care with Private Providers
We typically do not participate in shared care arrangements with privately funded providers. We are unable to engage in shared care if:
- No Formal Agreement Exists: There is no clear shared care agreement in place.
- NHS-Equivalent Model Not Provided: The private care arrangement does not replicate the structure of an NHS shared care model.
- Assessment-Only Services: The private provider only conducts assessments or gives a diagnosis without offering ongoing management.
- Inadequate Initial Work-Up: The private provider has not performed adequate initial assessments or provided key medication counselling.
- Lack of Medication Stabilisation: The private provider has not initiated or stabilised the medication.
- Discharge to GP Care: The private provider discharges the patient to GP care without continued oversight.
- Specialist Expertise Required: The treatment goes beyond the GP’s clinical capabilities.
- Unlicensed Medications: The private provider prescribes medication for uses outside its licensed indications.
Ensuring patient safety is our top priority. Without ongoing specialist involvement, we cannot take responsibility for managing treatments that may carry potential risks.
Key Considerations
While shared care can be beneficial, it hinges on clear communication and mutual agreements between all involved healthcare providers. Our focus is always on ensuring patient safety and making responsible use of NHS resources. For more information, please refer to the NHS guidance on shared care and prescribing responsibilities.
For additional information
NHS Guidance – NHS England » Responsibility for prescribing between primary and secondary/tertiary care BMA Guidance – General practice responsibility in responding to private healthcare (bma.org.uk)