Our practice has recently reviewed our policy on shared care arrangements with private healthcare providers.
We do not enter into private shared care agreements.
This means that if a patient receives treatment or medication initiated by a private clinician, we are unable to take over prescribing, monitoring, or follow-up for that treatment. Responsibility for these aspects of care remains with the private provider.
Why this policy is in place
- To ensure patient safety with clear lines of clinical responsibility
- To make sure NHS resources are used fairly for all patients
- To avoid unfunded transfer of workload from private providers to NHS general practice
- To ensure all prescribing follows local NHS guidelines and clinician expertise
What this means for patients
- Private specialists must continue prescribing and arranging any necessary tests for treatments they initiate.
- If you wish to receive NHS care instead, a referral to an NHS specialist can be made where appropriate, but the NHS clinician will decide the best treatment plan.
- GPs may only prescribe medications privately initiated if they would normally be offered within NHS guidelines and the GP considers it safe and appropriate.
If you have any questions about this policy or how it affects your care, please speak to our reception team.