Guidance for NHS patients
The Department of Health and Social Care has published guidance for NHS patients who pay for additional private care.
The guidance says:
· your NHS care will continue to be free of charge
· you can’t be asked to pay towards your NHS care, except where legislation allows charges, such as prescription charges.
· the NHS can’t pay for or subsidise your private hospital treatment
· there must be as clear a separation as possible between your private treatment and your NHS treatment
· your position on an NHS waiting list shouldn’t be affected if you choose to have a private consultation
Q: Do I need a GP referral for private treatment?
A: No. You can get private treatment from a consultant or specialist without being referred by your GP, but this is often decided by the private service. The British Medical Association (BMA) believes it’s best practice for patients to be referred by their GP for specialist treatment so that whoever is involved in looking after the patient has all the necessary details to do so safely.
Q: Should I get a referral from my GP?
A: If your GP thinks you need to see a specialist and you want to pay for it privately, they can write a letter of referral to a private consultant or specialist explaining your condition and your medical history. Your surgery can advise you if a referral is necessary, and often speaking to your practice team on the phone or via video or online consultation will suffice. Some private referral letters may need to be paid for.
Q: Can I mix different parts of the same treatment between NHS and private care?
A: No – you can’t choose to mix different parts of the same treatment between NHS and
private care.
Q: If I have a private appointment, what can I expect after the consultation?
A: The private consultant should send a letter to you and your GP to summarise what was discussed and to explain any recommended treatment or tests they will be arranging. Any tests will need to be arranged privately in most circumstances.
Q: What if I need medication following the private consultation?
A: This will need to be prescribed privately by the clinician making the recommendation. Many private hospitals have their own pharmacies and are able to provide the medication at the same time as the consultation. If you are seeing someone virtually, they should be able to arrange delivery of any medication to you.
Q: What if I have complications following private medical care?
Your private healthcare provider will normally treat any non-emergency complications that result from the private part of your care – for example, you might have side effects that need extra treatment.