Private Healthcare and the NHS

đź©ş NHS and Private Healthcare: How They Work Together

At Novum Health Partnership, we want to help you understand your options clearly — whether you’re receiving NHS care, considering private treatment, or using a mix of both.

đź’™ What the NHS provides

As an NHS patient, you’re entitled to a wide range of services free of charge, including:

  • Consultations with your GP

  • Referrals to NHS hospital specialists (when needed)

  • NHS prescriptions (charges may apply unless exempt)

  • Routine and emergency care through NHS hospitals

  • Vaccinations, health checks, and screening

This care is funded by the government, and you do not pay for appointments with us as your NHS GP.

đź’Ľ What is private healthcare?

Private healthcare is treatment that is paid for by you, your employer, or through a private medical insurance plan. You might choose private care because:

  • You want a quicker appointment for a specialist or scan

  • You’re looking for treatment not available on the NHS

  • You want to see a specific consultant or have treatment in a private hospital

Private care is always optional. You can still continue receiving all your NHS care through us.

đź”— How NHS and private care work together

Many patients use a combination of NHS and private care. Here’s how they connect:

➤ If you choose to see a private specialist:

  • You do not need a GP referral, though many private providers may ask for one.

  • If you need a referral letter, one of our GPs can provide one – at their discretion, if they feel the referral is warranted. If requested, and with your consent, we can share your NHS medical record with the private provider to support your care.

  • If your insurer requires a GP to complete an initial report or assessment, this is chargeable – as the GP is doing work for someone outside of the NHS.

  • You’ll usually pay for all appointments, tests, and treatments with the private provider.

➤ After private treatment:

  • If your private specialist recommends ongoing care (e.g. medications, blood tests, follow-up), we may be able to continue that care on the NHS, but not always.

  • We’ll review any private recommendations and decide if they are clinically appropriate and available on the NHS.

  • NHS GPs are under no obligation to prescribe medications or arrange investigations that have been requested privately. This is particularly the case if the treatment falls out of standard NHS guidelines.

  • Where a private provider has recommended the prescription of a controlled drug, particularly on the basis of ongoing treatment, our GPs are likely to wish to see all clinical documentation before making their decision.

➤ Coming back to the NHS:

  • You can return to NHS care at any time.

  • If needed, we can refer you to an NHS consultant after private treatment, although wait times may apply.

⚠️ What GPs can’t do:

  • We can’t speed up NHS services because you’ve had private care.

  • We can’t refer you to a private provider and expect the NHS to cover the costs — private referrals are entirely separate.

  • We don’t handle private billing or complaints — those must go to the private provider.

đź“ť Things to consider

  • Keep us informed if you’re receiving private treatment so we can ensure your records are up to date.

  • If you’re unsure whether to choose private or NHS care, speak to your GP — we can explain the pros and cons in your situation.

  • Your NHS care will never be affected by choosing private services for other parts of your treatment.