Prescriptions requested by private healthcare providers

Our policy on responding to requests for "shared care", received from private healthcare providers

"Shared care" in this context means healthcare that is shared between two healthcare providers from different settings.

For example: a GP and a private healthcare provider: a person may see a private doctor who recomends prescribing certain medication. There are occasions on which the patient pays the private doctor to presribe the medication, however they then ask us to carry out the necessary regular blood test to check the medication is safe and effective. This is asking us to enter into a "shared care" agreement - and the below policy applies. There are other occasions on which the patient (or their private GP) has asked us to prescribe the medication. This is also asking us to enter into a "shared care" agreement - and the below policy applies.    

For example: a GP and a hospital consultant. The hospital consultant may recomend certain medication and request that we prescribe it, and  / or ask us to carry out the necessary regular blood test to check the medication is safe and effective. This is asking us to enter into a "shared care" agreement - and the below policy applies. 

 

Our policy is as follows: We follow the BMA guidance. 

Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis, following a discussion between several GPs.
Our main exception is that we will enter into shared care agreements for the following:

  • Patients who we have already agreed to prescribe for
  • Patients who are under a private provider but it is for NHS care
  • Trans/non-binary patients under a private clinic that meets the criteria in our trans healthcare policy (which uses guidance issued by the General Medical Council)

The reason for making an exception for our trans and non binary patients is that there is an extremely long wait for NHS services and no work being done to reduce it. (Unlike ADHD, for example, where there is the Right To Choose pathway or a surgical waiting list ie there is funding to reduce these).

"Prescribing" under shared care agreements includes any testing that is required to ensure safety and or efficacy (eg blood tests).