Private Referrals.docx
Dear Patient,
We understand that choosing to access private healthcare can be an important decision, and we want to ensure you are fully informed about how this interacts with your NHS care.
When you are referred to a private provider—whether for specialist consultation, diagnostic tests, or treatment—it is important to be aware of the following:
🩺 GP Responsibilities and NHS Care
- Referral Process: Your NHS GP may provide a referral letter if clinically appropriate. This letter outlines relevant medical history and the reason for referral. There is a fee for this as it is non NHS work.
- Ongoing NHS Care: Your GP remains responsible for your NHS care, but any investigations, prescriptions, or follow-up appointments arranged privately are not the responsibility of the NHS.
- Test Requests: If your private consultant recommends additional tests (e.g. blood tests, scans), these should be arranged and funded through the private provider. NHS GPs are not obliged to arrange or interpret tests requested privately.
- Prescriptions: Medications recommended by a private consultant should be issued privately. Your GP may prescribe them on the NHS at their discretion and only if they are clinically appropriate, licensed, and in line with local prescribing guidelines.
- Results and Communication: It is your responsibility to ensure that any relevant results or correspondence from your private provider are shared with your GP, should they be needed for your NHS records or ongoing care. Communicating and chasing up tests, appointments and letters remains your responsibility.
🔍 Why This Matters
The NHS and private healthcare systems operate separately. While we are committed to supporting your health, we must ensure that NHS resources are used appropriately and equitably. This means that services recommended or initiated privately should be managed within that system.
If you have any questions about your referral or what it means for your care, please don’t hesitate to speak with a member of our team.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours sincerely,
The Bovey Tracey & Chudleigh Practice