Clinics & Services

Private Referrals and Shared Care Requests

Can my GP offer “shared care” and provide a prescription that my private consultant has suggested?

Pembroke Medical Group is unable to offer shared care with Private healthcare providers.

If a Private consultant suggests the need for an ongoing specialist medication that requires monitoring then this responsibility would lie with that private clinic and care cannot be shared with NHS GP services. Furthermore, our local commissioners may not recognise shared care arrangements that are not directly commissioned by them even if the provider states this is within NHS provision.

The care would need to continue entirely with the Private clinic until an NHS consultant and GP have accepted to take over shared care.

Torbay GPs are actively involved in discussions to try and improve the NHS services that exist. We are aware that our patients are experiencing very long waits to be seen on the NHS for some services and as a consequence are seeking advice from Private clinics to try and get help. We are trying to support our patients and feedback to health commissioners that our patients need better access to specialist care for some of the worst effected services.

Torbay GPs are keen to work towards a solution for this but for now we are keen that patients are aware of this before they embark on a referral for a Private opinion so that they can make an informed decision.