Seeing A Specialist Privately – What Is The Process?
For patients using private health insurance e.g. BUPA, AXA etc
You will need to contact your private health insurer to gain authorisation before making your appointment. The Practice will write a referral letter if they feel this is appropriate, and this will include any relevant medical details about you. Please let our secretaries know who you are seeing and where.
Please note that if an insurance company wishes for a specific form to be completed you may be charged for this additional work.
For patients who do not have a health insurance policy
If you do not have private health insurance and wish to book directly with a private clinic, you can arrange an appointment. You may be able to access a private specialist without a referral letter. If a referral letter is needed, the Practice will write one if they feel this is appropriate, and this will include any relevant medical details about you. Please let our secretaries know who you are seeing and where.
Should you have any questions regarding your appointment you should contact the specialist’s team or your private healthcare provider directly not the Practice.
What happens if I need a test or procedure?
If the specialist thinks that you need any tests, including blood tests or a surgical procedure, then the specialist or their team are responsible for:
- Arranging tests and any medications that might be needed prior to the procedure, as well as explaining how and when you will receive a date for the procedure and what to do if the date is not suitable for you.
- Giving you your results and explaining what they mean. This may be via letter or a further appointment.
Considerations regarding medications
Private doctors/specialists may suggest medications to patients which wouldn’t normally be prescribed by NHS GPs or that are outside the parameters of a ‘shared care agreement’. If this is the case, you can obtain your medication via a private prescription from the specialist. Similarly, if monitoring is required for a privately issued medication to be taken safely, the specialist should have access to their own facilities for e.g. blood tests.
Follow up after private treatment
It is important to note that in some instances e.g. weight loss surgery, if undertaken privately either in the UK or abroad, you will not be entitled to follow up within the NHS.