Private Referrals Policy

This policy only applies to private referrals. It does not apply to NHS shared care patients.

For any health issue, Horfield Health Centre (HHC) patients may choose to see a private specialist who is entitled to receive self-referrals from patients. Some specialists insist on a GP referral first. In that case, if the HHC GP agrees that a referral is necessary, they can arrange an open referral letter.

Patients can choose their own private specialist. However, we would advise patients to select someone:

• who is appropriately trained and regulated. (That is something that the patient will need to research and decide for themselves.)
• with the ability to arrange any necessary tests privately and arrange any appropriate private prescriptions.

HHC clinicians must be satisfied that the prescription is:

• needed,
• appropriate for the patient, and
• within the clinician’s limits of their competence for that specialty

before they consider taking over the responsibility.

If an HHC clinician agrees to take over the prescribing of medication, the time after which they will be able to take over prescribing medication can vary. This depends on such things as the health issue and/or the medication.

With effect from 1st January 2025, HHC clinicians will not enter into any new shared care arrangement with private providers.

Equally, if general practices receive requests from private providers to arrange tests or investigations, this is outside the scope of NHS primary medical services. Therefore, the patient would need to make arrangements with the private provider for these.