Caldbeck Surgery respects your decision to see a specialist privately, and we know that many people do so because NHS waiting times can be long and they want to get on with their care. It is entirely your right to do so.
As a GP practice, we are contracted to deliver NHS services under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract. Unfortunately, this does not extend to carrying out investigations (blood tests, ECG’s and other monitoring) on behalf of private providers.
If we were to use NHS appointments, phlebotomy time, and laboratory capacity for privately managed treatment, this would reduce availability for patients who need those resources for their NHS care, even if you are offering to pay for these services.
Why this is also important for patient safety?
If we were to take blood samples and an abnormal result came back, the practice would be in a difficult position. We have a duty to act on any result that could affect your care, but the GP may not prescribe the medication, may not have the specialist expertise to interpret the result in context, and cannot adjust the dose or stop the treatment if needed.
Some medications need especially careful handling
Some medications commonly prescribed in the private sector carry what is known as a “red” traffic-light status on NHS formularies. This means that, because of their specialist nature or the complexity of monitoring required, prescribing and monitoring should stay with the specialist rather than transfer to the GP. This is not a reflection on GPs’ abilities; it is a safety framework designed to keep patients safe.
Fairness to all our patients
We have a responsibility to treat all our patients fairly and consistently. If we were to carry out tests or monitoring for one patient’s private treatment, we would need to offer the same to everyone in a similar position. Over time, the cumulative effect of this would place real pressure on the services available for patients who are unwell.
It is worth knowing that every blood test processed through the practice generates a chain of work: the sample must be taken, labelled, transported, processed, reported, reviewed by a clinician, actioned if abnormal, and communicated back to the patient.
How you can find an alternative
The good news is that there are straightforward alternatives, and your private specialist should be well placed to help you arrange monitoring:
It is a good idea to clarify any monitoring arrangements and their cost with your private specialist before starting treatment, so that everything is in place from day one and there are no unexpected gaps in your care.
A final note to patients:
Reception may have directed you to this page for further information. Please note that if you are requesting blood tests or monitoring before, during, or after private treatment, these requests cannot be accommodated. We kindly ask that you do not submit repeat requests regarding this, as it places additional pressure on our reception and nursing teams.
A note to private specialists
We kindly ask that private providers arrange their own blood test monitoring rather than requesting this from our practice.
In line with GMC guidance and NHS policy, the prescribing clinician retains clinical responsibility for all monitoring associated with their treatment. We are not able to enter into shared care arrangements with private providers, and we are sorry that requests of this nature will need to be declined, with the patient directed back to your service for monitoring arrangements.
We would gently encourage private providers to ensure patients are fully informed about the total cost of their treatment, including monitoring, at the point of consent, so that patients can make a truly informed decision before starting treatment. We will of course continue to provide all appropriate NHS general medical services to the patient for any other conditions, and we are always happy to liaise with you on matters relating to the patient’s wider NHS care.
