Shared Care Agreements and Private Providers
When specialists recommend treatments or medications that are commonly prescribed in primary care, we can generally continue to provide them without issue. However, challenges arise when treatments are highly specialized, outside standard guidelines, or fall beyond the expertise of primary care practitioners. As GMC-registered doctors, we must recognize our professional limitations and prescribe only within our area of competence.
Within the NHS, issues like this can sometimes be addressed through a “shared care” arrangement. This is a formal agreement that defines the roles and responsibilities of the patient, GP, and specialist in managing treatments that are not typically prescribed in primary care. Such guidelines include monitoring requirements, managing side effects, and addressing drug interactions. Importantly, under a shared care arrangement, the patient remains under regular follow-up in secondary care, where the overall treatment plan is reviewed and adjusted as needed.
However, shared care arrangements with private providers are not supported within the NHS. This is in line with the principle of maintaining a clear separation between private and NHS care. Concerns include accountability, continuity of care in case a private provider ceases operations, and the additional workload and funding constraints faced by primary care.
We hope this explanation is helpful. Our advice would be to obtain the recommended treatment directly from your private specialist or explore private providers who can administer or continue the treatment. Alternatively, you could ask your private specialist to refer you to a local NHS service for ongoing care and support.