Knoll Medical Practice and Private Healthcare: A Guide for Our Patients
At Knoll Medical Practice, we strive to offer excellent care for all patients. We respect those who opt for private treatment. This page clarifies how our NHS practice works with private healthcare providers to avoid misunderstandings.
Seeking a Private Specialist Opinion
For patients with health insurance:
If your GP decides a private specialist referral is appropriate, they will write a letter with medical details. This can be emailed to you (ensure we have your correct email) or directly to the specialist’s secretary. Wait until you or the secretary receive the letter before booking an appointment, as it contains important information.
Please be advised that completing specific forms required by your insurance company may incur an additional charge for the extra work involved.
For patients without health insurance:
You can book with a private clinic without a referral letter. A summary of your medical history may be helpful for the specialist, which we can provide if needed. Contact the specialist’s team or your healthcare provider/insurer directly for appointments and queries.
Seeing the Specialist
Tests and Procedures:
The specialist is responsible for scheduling and explaining tests, managing pre-test medications, and communicating results.
Due to high demand, our NHS practice cannot provide blood monitoring or procedures requested by private specialists. We will notify the specialist to make alternative arrangements.
Please don’t contact us about test results organised by other doctors. The specialist will discuss these with you, as we likely won’t have access to or be able to interpret the results.
New Medicines:
The specialist will issue the initial prescription for any new medication that needs to be started immediately. Note that private prescriptions presented at NHS pharmacies will incur the full cost of the medication rather than the standard NHS prescription charge.
Your GP may continue prescribing some medications recommended by a specialist on an NHS prescription. This decision is at the GP’s discretion and requires a detailed clinic letter from the specialist outlining the treatment rationale, prescription details (including what it is being used to treat, duration, and required monitoring). Please allow at least seven days for this letter to arrive before contacting the practice.
For urgent prescriptions, please contact the specialist’s team directly.
Private specialists may recommend medications not typically prescribed by NHS GPs. In such cases, you will need to continue obtaining these medications from the specialist.
NHS Prescribing and the South East London Formulary:
Our priority is providing safe and effective care. We adhere to the South East London Joint Medicines Formulary, which categorises medications based on their suitability for GP prescribing.
We may not be able to issue an NHS prescription following a private consultation under the following circumstances:
- The practice deems there is no clear clinical indication, and an NHS patient would not receive the same treatment.
- The specialist recommends a new, experimental, or off-license treatment, or one that falls outside formulary recommendations.
- The GP feels it is outside their competence.
- The prescription does not adhere to licensed doses or uses as per the British National Formulary.
- The medication is not generally provided within the NHS.
Shared Care Protocols:
Shared Care Protocols (SCPs) are agreements between specialists and GPs that outline responsibilities for patients requiring specialist medications. These protocols often involve regular blood tests. Without an SCP, it is not safe to prescribe and monitor certain medications, including Disease Modifying Drugs, IVF-related medications, and those for ADHD. SCPs are typically used within the NHS context.
In cases where NHS waiting times are lengthy, SCPs from private providers may be accepted under limited circumstances, provided they align with the South East London Joint Medicines Formularyand are essentially identical to NHS SCPs. Private providers are expected to have facilities for necessary blood tests and physiological measurements.
If an NHS prescription cannot be issued, medication can be obtained privately. It is advisable to consider the cost of the medication and associated monitoring beforehand. For further information, refer to the GMC Safe Prescribing Guidance: www.gmc-uk.org/prescribing-and-managing-medicines-and-devices
Transferring Care Back to the NHS:
To return to NHS care after private treatment, have your specialist manage the transfer. If they can’t, ask them to write to us directly.
Acute Private Consultations:
Requests for tests or imaging from private primary care consultations may be declined, because these providers might not have access to your complete NHS medical record.
Private Blood Testing:
We recognise the concerns regarding private blood testing companies’ potential impact on NHS resources. Requests for investigations into issues potentially caused by these tests will be evaluated at the GP’s discretion.
Private Services for Businesses:
Private services for businesses, including medical assessments, are available. Please contact us to discuss your organisation’s needs. These services will not interfere with NHS patient access.