The practice undertakes work that is classed as not NHS e.g. private letters/private medical reports/insurance claims at the absolute discretion of the practice.
We do not undertake private clinical procedures.
The practice reserves the right to decline private fee paying work requests and examples of this can be found on our fees page.
Where a patient has chosen to go private for a clinical pathway the patient has the choice to remain on that pathway or transfer to the NHS pathway at any point. The patient cannot mix and match their care. For example if a patient is seeing a non NHS private provider for a pathway such as fertility or weight loss, the patient must either stay with that provider for all associated tests and advice or end the treatment with the private provider and restart from the beginning with the NHS provider. The patient is not permitted to request the GP practice undertakes diagnostic tests (inc blood tests) for the use by their private care provider. The responsibility remains with the consulting, responsible clinician.
Naturally, should a patient end treatment with their private provider, the NHS doctor will recommence the care and request the appropriate tests on the NHS.
The NHS Guidlines are very explicit and state:
- Private and NHS care should be kept as clearly separate as possible.
- Private care should be carried out at a different time to the NHS care that a patient is
receiving.
Birchwood Medical Practice does not accept responsibility for continuing to offer a private service, even if a previous GP surgery has provided it for you. We understand this may be disappointing to some patients. You may wish to enquire at other GP surgeries as to whether they would provide it.
This does not affect your access to NHS care as a result of other health issues not related to your private treatment.
The practice acts in line with NHS Policy which can be found here.