Are you concerned that having a private medical consultation means your treatments need to be private too? It’s a frequently asked question – can a private GP refer to the NHS?

The short answer is, yes. It’s fine to see a private GP if you want to and, if necessary, we will refer you to an NHS consultant.

Read on to find out how it works and why it could benefit you.

How private GPs can refer to the NHS

When you need a GP, we can help you. A private fully registered GP (general practitioner) can see you and provide ‘pre-referral’ services to assess your needs. Then, if necessary, they can refer you to the NHS for further diagnosis, tests, treatment or surgery.

As explained by the British Medical Association, guidance from the Department of Health says: ‘Patients who have chosen to pay privately for an element of their care are entitled to receive NHS diagnostic tests free of charge as long as they are eligible. A referral by a private GP for an NHS diagnostic test should not be any different from an NHS GP referral.’

Patients don’t need permission from an NHS GP to go to a standalone private GP service.

Why see a private GP?

GPs can investigate symptoms, provide diagnosis, and give information about evidence-based treatments.

A visit to a private GP can help you in many ways:

• Choose a GP who suits your needs
• Private physical and mental health advice when you need it
• No long waits before we refer you to a specialist
• Access to secondary care on the NHS to reduce medical expenses.

Receiving private and NHS care at the same time

You may be wondering how the services of a private GP fit in with the NHS. In fact, this type of collaboration between medical organisations is nothing new. Here’s how it works.

As a private provider, Ravenscroft Health can be your first point of contact for general medical advice.

If you need specialist treatment, we can refer you to the NHS if you wish.

According to government guidance, paying for private care does not affect your access to free NHS care.

Bear in mind that having a private consultation won’t change your position on NHS waiting lists. Also please note that the NHS cannot pay for or subsidise your private hospital treatment. And you can’t mix different parts of the same treatment between NHS and private care. See the NHS website for more details.

In cases where you receive private and NHS care for the same condition, a single healthcare team may oversee both types of care. But, as the official guidelines point out: ‘You should receive your private care at a different time and place from your NHS care whenever possible.’

See a private GP in London

Ravenscroft Health offers flexible time slots to see a private GP in London clinics or at our site in Milton Keynes.

You can even book a doctor appointment in the early morning, evenings and at weekends.

Even if you have a busy schedule, it means you can easily get to a face-to-face GP consultation. And you won’t need to worry about the often long waiting time to access an NHS GP surgery.

Ravenscroft Health clinics are a ‘one-stop shop’ with multiple specialities. They include:

Our services include:

• Expert medical advice
• High-quality diagnostics
• Treatments for a wide range of conditions
• Regular health screenings and blood tests
• Vaccinations
• Medications
• Comprehensive medical and rehabilitation services