This guidance is intended to provide clarification regarding pre and/or post treatment support within Primary Care by General Practitioners around private patient consultations.

Individuals choosing to seek healthcare privately are effectively stepping outside of the health and social care (HSC) system. In these circumstances, there is no obligation on GPs to provide pre and/or post treatment support. Therefore, it remains important for individuals wishing to avail of private healthcare to ensure that all pre and post treatment support costs are included in the overall package of care procured from the private healthcare provider inside or outside the UK.

In instances where any ongoing treatment and medication is recommended, but is not provided, by the private provider as part of the private service then individuals should be prepared to meet any associated costs.

As part of your decision to procure healthcare in a private capacity, it is recommended that patients:

• ensure all pre and post treatment costs are included in the overall package.
• understand that they may have to pay privately for any ongoing treatment or medications which are recommended.

In line with normal practice, individuals procuring healthcare privately will continue to be able to access emergency care where necessary. In circumstances where a patient is receiving care in the Independent Sector as an HSC patient, pre and post treatment care will be provided by the HSC as normal.

In summary, a GP is under no obligation to provide an HSC prescription to a patient based on the recommendation of a private practitioner.

GPs may contemplate a request from a private consultant if it is considered to be clinically appropriate, falls within their area of competence, does not breach the terms of their GMS contract, and is in keeping with the General Medical Council (GMC) standards on prescribing and Good Medical Practice but this is generally the exception rather than the rule.