Private Prescriptions and tests
Private medicine and your NHS GP
At Moatfield Suergery we follow NHS guidance on working with doctors and other practitioners in the private sector, whether they are based in the UK or overseas.
We are aware that is it not always obvious to patients how the system operates, nor what rules we have to follow as NHS GPs, so we have written this guidance to clarify some commonly occurring situations.
We would encourage you to read this information before attending your private appointment so that you are aware in advance of where the interface between private and NHS practice lies and understand the rules that limit what we can do regarding medication or care requested by the private sector.
Getting a referral to a private doctor
You can access private treatment from a specialist without being referred by your GP, but some private doctors and insurance companies do require a referral. Please make a routine appointment with your GP if you wish to discuss a private referral. If your GP agrees, they will give you a referral letter to a named specialty for you to take to the provider of your choice. Whilst you are undertaking private treatment, all prescriptions and associated care, monitoring of bloods, etc will also have to be undertaken privately. We are unable to ‘mix and match’ NHS and private care.
Tests and Investigations
If your private doctor thinks that you need any tests or investigations, including blood tests or any surgical procedure, then that doctor is responsible for:
• Arranging tests and any medications that might be needed prior to the test, as well as explaining how and when you will receive a date for the test, and what to do if the date is not suitable for you;
• Arranging any tests or investigations required for monitoring medication they are prescribing for you;
• Giving you your results and explaining what they mean;
• Arranging any follow up including removal of stitches/staples etc, or sufficient painkillers if you have had an operation or other procedure;
• Arranging any onward referral either to another private practitioner or to NHS services recommended by the private doctor.
Please do not contact the practice to discuss the results of tests organised by practitioners outside the practice. Without the full context and rationale for the investigation it is not possible for us to interpret investigations safely. It is your private doctor’s responsibility to discuss any tests they have requested with you.
Medications
When a patient is seen privately by a specialist or GP for a single episode of care any short-term medication required should be prescribed by the private doctor and paid for by the patient as part of that package of care. We will not transfer it to an NHS prescription. We are unable to ‘mix and match’ NHS and private care.
In a small number of circumstances, if the private doctor identifies a long-term condition which requires medication which is the same as you would have had on the NHS this may be prescribed by your GP surgery. Only if your GP considers there is a clinical need and that an NHS patient would be treated in the same way would an NHS prescription to continue your treatment be considered.
If the recommendation from your private specialist is for treatment that is not in line with local policies, then your GP may change the medication in line with that used for NHS patients.
If your GP does not feel able to accept clinical responsibility, then the GP may consider:
1. Offering a referral to an NHS consultant to consider whether the recommended medication should be prescribed as part of ongoing NHS funded treatment.
2. Asking the private specialist to remain responsible for the treatment because of its specialist nature, and to provide further prescriptions, for which you will need to pay.
Shared care
This is used in prescribing for complex conditions or with specialist medications that often require specific monitoring (e.g. methotrexate, Roaccutane, ADHD medication) and require the GP to be able to access guaranteed urgent specialist advice or referral in case of problems. We can’t rely on this support from private providers.
If we start prescribing medication, we are taking complete clinical responsibility for the safety and appropriateness of that medication for an individual patient. Even under the NHS a GP can decline to take on shared care for a patient’s medication if they feel it is inappropriate or outside their competence.
Unfortunately, we are not able to enter shared care agreements with private providers. Over the past few years, a large number of private clinics have appeared offering diagnostic services for many conditions. Some of these clinics, of course, will provide thorough, expert assessment and advice, but unfortunately, others will not. We are not able to quality check all these clinics and it is important for us to have a consistent approach.
We can only prescribe ‘shared care’ medications initiated by an NHS provider of care.
Your decision to seek private care either independently or via your GP does not in any way impact your rights to access future NHS treatment for any condition. Patients seeking private treatment also have the choice of switching from private to NHS care at any time during their treatment, but you would be referred for NHS care in the same way as any other patient.
Last Reviewed 16/05/2025