Private Health Care Referrals

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We receive a lot of requests for private healthcare referrals and we support your right to do so. It can be confusing in how your NHS GP can be involved in your private healthcare journey, so we hope to clarify common scenarios we encounter. 

The points below are not unique to Cavendish; and are guided by the BMA. Please see the link below for more detail. 

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https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/managing-workload/general-practice-responsibility-in-responding-to-private-healthcare

 

Can I request a private referral? 

Please click here for information about private referrals.

Some insurer providers will ask us you for a letter from your GP (which we can do provided we have information regarding your condition) and other providers will ask your GP to fill out a form (for which there is a charge as this is not an NHS service) 

 

Can my NHS GP request a test that my private provider has requested? 

Upon seeing your private consultant, if they require any scans or tests to be done, it is their responsibility to request the tests and relay the results to you. 

 

It is important to note that complying with such requests (regardless of the GP’s management and treatment of the patient) is outside the scope of NHS primary medical services. This may also be the case when you’re seeing an NHS specialist. 

Additionally NHS services should not be used to subsidise private health services. 

 

Can the GP check my private tests results? 

There are many private care providers offering direct patient access (without referral) to blood tests, STI screening, health MOTs and direct access to radiological investigations like MRIs. Unfortunately we will not be able to review these results 

because a lot of the time these tests may not be accessible in NHS care, and some of these tests are not based on NICE guidance or from accredited laboratories. 

The GP may not have the knowledge to interpret these tests. It will be your responsibility to get the results followed up on by a private provider. 

 

We discourage going directly for these tests without speaking to a doctor first. If the results are abnormal, you are encouraged to find a private specialist to interpret the results or give you a prescription. Please think carefully before booking these and take into consideration the potential costs that may incur if you need to have further tests or consultations in the private sector.

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