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.

 

 



 
Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergencyNHS ChoicesThis site is brought to you by My Surgery Website