Policy regarding requests from private providers to take blood tests

North Cardiff Medical Centre follows the following guidance regarding requests for blood tests and other investigations by a private provider:

If a patient has chosen to pay for private healthcare because

1. a) their treatment is not available on the NHS or

1. b) they do not wish to be treated on the NHS

they are responsible for paying for all costs, including tests, and the private provider is responsible for managing every aspect of their healthcare (unless the patient chooses to transfer back to the NHS at a later date to continue treatment).

For that reason, private providers should not be asking GPs to arrange any tests that they deem necessary, and intend to use, to make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment with.

It is the private provider’s responsibility to arrange tests for patients whose care they are managing, and the patient’s responsibility to pay for them.

Policy regarding requests from private providers to start or take over prescribing medication

In addition to the above policy, the practice cannot prescribe on behalf of private providers nor continue to supply prescriptions which have previously been supplied by the private provider unless this is a medication which a GP would normally prescribe and the prescription is in line with local health board guidelines. We are not permitted to have shared care protocols with private providers.

Private consultants wishing to transfer patients to NHS care should directly refer their patient to the appropriate NHS service who will reassess and, if appropriate, take over your treatment. At the point that your care has been taken over by an NHS service, a request may be made by the NHS service to share prescribing responsibility with the practice. Our practice pharmacist will review and manage all such requests in line with the local health board guidelines.

Screening tests carried out by private providers which have not been approved by the UK National Screening Committee

The practice supports the national guidance which can be found on the RCGP website.

If the patient chooses to have private screening tests or investigations that are not available or recommended by the NHS, they should ensure that they have the funds or insurance in place to cover the costs of any additional treatment or investigation that is incurred as the NHS may not cover these.

Private Fees (Non NHS work) – Information for patients and third parties

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.

The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.

Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients.

Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to complete this work outside of and in addition to their normal hours. 

I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. 

In order to complete even the simplest of forms therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record.  Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the police.

I haven’t got the report/letter I want, why should I pay?

The fee is to pay for the doctors time, and the time of the administrative staff. Even a seemingly simple report may sometimes involve checking the the complete medical record which can take a considerable amount of time.

Fitness to……

I have been asked to provide a fitness to … certificate, why can’t the GP just sign this?

The problem with these certificates is that many things can change between the time the GP provides this certificate and the event taking place e.g. going on holiday/flying whilst pregnant/taking part in certain activities.

A patient may also have a previously undiagnosed condition which would make the activity harmful for them -sadly we are all aware of deaths which occur every year in supposedly fit marathon competitors, and even premier league footballers.

We may not have seen the patient recently for this condition and may not therefore be in a position to make any comments on their state of health. An appointment booked for this reason would therefore be a private appointment and the request will either be refused or the patient may be charged. Please check before doing this.

All fees must be paid in advance of work being completed and supplied.

We hope this information is helpful and clarifies some of the queries we have had recently from patients.

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For a List of our fees please click here.