As you are aware, a major local private clinic recently closed, hence making any shared care agreement between the clinic and the patient’s GP invalid. This has left us as GPs and our patients in a very unsafe situation.
Shared care is a term used within the NHS to describe the situation where a specialist doctor wishes to pass some of the patient’s care, such as prescription of medication, over to their general practitioner (GP). This is something that can be requested, but this may only be done if the GP agrees. In shared care arrangements, the prescribing Consultant or specialist team would still remain responsible for parts of the patient’s care. The presence of a specialist is also essential for the GP to be deemed to be operating under ‘shared care’. Shared care is not ‘shared’ unless it is shared by the GP with someone else. Without this, then GPs may be deemed to be operating outside of Good Medical Practice.
Based on the above, going forward, we will not be signing any shared care agreements with private providers. While we sympathise with the patients, we have made this difficult but necessary decision for patient safety reasons.
We would also like to bring your attention to the following British Medical Association (BMA) guidance
The BMA guidance is clear that ‘Shared Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principle of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care.’
We will be notifying patients at the point of seeking a private referral of the guidance, and making it clear that any treatment, tests or examinations requested by the private provider will need to remain the clinical responsibility of the private provider.
- We will honour the existing agreement between us and private clinics prior to 01.04.2025, provided there is a regular follow-up arrangement with the specialist.
- NHS and RIGHT TO CHOOSE NHS – we will honour shared care.
- Any private providers outside of this – we will NOT be signing any shared care agreements. We will also not prescribe their medications whilst awaiting an NHS referral if at any point they wish to transfer to NHS care to get their medications. This would mean for the 1-2 year waiting time for NHS review, we will NOT be prescribing their medication for them until they have an NHS shared care agreement.
| Written by: Dr Qudsia Ghaffar | Authorised by: Dr Rishi Anand |
| Job title: GP | Job title: GP Partner |
| Effective Date: 01.04.2025 | Review date: 30.03.2026 |