Private Referrals and Treatment

GENERAL:

The practice is happy to refer you privately for treatment however, there are some things you need to be aware of when opting to go privately for treatment or surgery.

When you are referred for private treatment, then everything associated with that care is private, you cannot mix and match private and NHS treatment.  This means that if the consultant/specialist requires you to have any tests or investigations then they will arrange these, act on the results and invoice you for these privately.

Following completion of your treatment, the consultant/specialist will then refer you back to the GP informing them what they have carried out and their findings, they may also offer the GP suggestions about your ongoing care. 

PRIVATE BLOOD TESTS AND INVESTIGATIONS:

Following new guidance issued to us by the NHS, we are no longer allowed to undertake tests (including blood tests) or issue medications for conditions that are being investigated or treated privately.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/if-i-pay-for-private-treatment-how-will-my-nhs-care-be-affected/ 

We have notified all local private consultants/specialists, so they are aware and understand that we are no longer able to supply NHS services to their private patients.

To avoid embarrassment, please do not ask one of our doctors to either prescribe medication or arrange blood tests requested by your specialist as we will have to refuse.

You cannot mix and match private and NHS treatment.

SPECIALIST BARIATRIC SURGERY:

A number of patients are opting to have private bariatric surgery either, here in the UK or abroad.  There are a number of things to consider when opting for this surgery when going abroad:

1. Specialist bariatric surgery requires two years of follow up care. This will include regular blood testing, prescriptions and possibly treatment.
2. As stated earlier, when you opt for private treatment, then everything associated with that care is private, you cannot mix and match private and NHS treatment. This means that if the consultant/specialist requires you to have any tests, investigations, prescriptions etc., then he will arrange these, act on the results and invoice you for these services privately.
3. Private patients opting for surgery in the UK should be receiving the same two year follow up from their provider as NHS patients; this is part of the cost of the surgery (package of care)
4. Private patients opting to go abroad for surgery, need to consider how they will receive their follow up care if they are not going back to their original surgeon. This could be via a private provider in the UK and many private providers in the UK accept self-referral for bariatric surgery follow up.

Following completion of you treatment and the two year follow up period, the consultant/specialist should refer you back to the GP informing them what they have carried out and their findings, they may also offer the GP suggestions about your ongoing care.  It is at this point your GP will take over your routine care again.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PATIENTS:

• Ensure you provide your GP with the discharge summary after your surgery, as this information is important and needs to be added to you NHS medical record in case of complications following your surgery.
• Where surgery is provided via an NHS contract with a private provider, the follow up care will be included in the package of care paid for via the NHS.
• The private consultant/specialist should refer you back to the GP on completion of his/her treatment/investigations. He/she may also offer the GP suggestions about further management, which might include a review of blood test etc.  These results are the responsibility of your consultant/specialist, as they were requested by them, so any action required must be taken by him/her and invoiced privately.
• You cannot mix and match private and NHS treatment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For patients considering privately funding an ADHD assessment

When patients choose to seek privately funded healthcare, a number of fundamental principles apply.

Please read the following guidance before paying for an ADHD assessment outside the NHS. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your GP.

It is important that patients are fully aware of the longer-term implications of privately funding elements of their healthcare, including what to expect once they have paid for and received an assessment and/or diagnosis. This includes an understanding of the limitations of cover provided by any private medical insurance and how ongoing supplies of medication should be obtained.

1. If you wish to receive NHS funded care and treatment for ADHD, you should be assessed and diagnosed by an NHS funded service. Your GP can advise you on the services that they can refer you to and the anticipated waiting times.
2. You have the right to privately fund an ADHD assessment and diagnosis, but this should be on the expectation that everything subsequent to that diagnosis – including medication costs – will also be self-funded.
   Your GP has the right to refuse to prescribe ADHD medication on the NHS if you paid for a private assessment and diagnosis.
3. If you wish to receive NHS funded treatment following a privately funded diagnosis, you should still be assessed and diagnosed by the NHS funded service once you reach the top of the waiting list. A privately funded diagnosis cannot be used to advance your position on this waiting list, nor can it be used to bypass the assessment stage and progress straight to treatment.
4. Please be aware that an NHS clinician cannot be compelled to accept a diagnosis made following a privately funded assessment and may disagree with the diagnosis you have been given.
5. Please be aware that a recommendation from a privately funded specialist does not entitle you to NHS prescriptions for that medicine.
   The NHS clinician will determine the most clinically appropriate treatment for you, taking into account local and national guidelines, as they take personal clinical responsibility for your treatment.
   The clinician who signs the prescription is legally liable for the prescribing and the consequent effects
   of that drug.

Please see the Kent and Medway ICB website for more information: Mixing private and NHS treatment :: NHS Kent and Medway

FEES FOR NON-NHS WORK (PRIVATE WORK)

Effective from 1st November 2024

NHS Work takes priority over these requests, therefore there may be a delay with processing.

Letters/Certificates

To Whom It May Concern: £40.00

Private sick certificate: £40.00

Holiday Cancellation form: £60.00

Fitness to Travel: £60.00

Proof of Life: £20.00

Firearms/Shotgun Licence: £50.00

Medical Examinations

Taxi/HGV/PCV/Job: £125.00 (1/2 hour appointment)

DVLA: £125.00 (1/2 hour appointment)

Childminder/Ofsted assessment: £87.50 (45 minute appointment)

(Renewal form – AH2) £24.36

Adoption Medical: £150.00

Insurance proposal Report – With examination £125.00 (1/2 hour appointment)

Power of Attorney/Mental Capacity (COP3)

Power of Attorney/Mental Capacity assessment: £80.00 = 1 form£120.00 = 2 forms

£40.00 additional if home visit is required

Records

Medical Info £60.00

(Extract from Records):

Manual/Computerised: £50.00 – Maximum (0.35p per page)

Reports

Medical Report/Claim Form: £50.00 = 1 form - £70.00 – 2 forms

Occupational Health Questionnaire: £50.00

Insurance Proposal Report Without examination: £100.00

Company Medical Report: £100.00