THis is not tricky: It is specifically banned in the NHS regulations. WE had this problem with one of our consultants and showed him the relevant paragraph from the NHS Green Book. THis says a patient cannot alternate between private & NHS for their treatment and that seeing a consultant privately to have tests done by GP to then be given results by the consultant therefore breaches the NHS terms & Conditions of service. Consultants & GPs can be sacked for running such a scam.
TIM
**************************************************************************
Prof. Tim Reynolds,
Clinical chemistry Dept.,
Queen's Hospital,
Belvedere Rd.,
Burton-on-Trent.
tel: +44 (0) 1283 511511 ext 4035
fax: +44 (0) 1283 593064
email: [log in to unmask]
[alternative email for when all too frequently NHS Net isn't working [log in to unmask]]
-----Original Message-----
From: c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL
INT;dda:RFC-822=ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Sent: 26 October 2001 09:59
To: c=GB;a=NHS;p=NHS NATIONAL
INT;dda:RFC-822=ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Subject: Re: Private GPs
Dear Trevor,
A trickier situation is where a private consultant wishes to arrange pathology tests on one of his/her private patients but tells the patient to have the tests done through the GP. We are often phoned by consultants' secretaries from our local private hospitals asking for results of tests taken in this way. The results have of course gone to the assumed original requester, the GP, and the first that we know differently is when the private consultant's secretary rings us. Any professional input, such as interpretation, that we have carried out therefore goes uncharged to the GP, not to the private patient being seen at the private hospital, for whom I presume it would be proper for a fee to be levied. Also, the hospital should also be paid for a test carried out in such circumstances. Such a thing would never happen with the histopathologists!
David
-----Original Message-----
From: p=NHS NATIONAL INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 5:13 PM
To: p=NHS NATIONAL INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Subject: Re: Private GPs
Eric did not know of the existence of private GPs.
Not only do private they exist, any medically registered practitioner can
set him/herself up as one (unless the GMC have recently ruled to the
contrary).
Some years ago I asked the DoH about the position with regard to charges for
such work. I was informed that providers of 'General Medical Services' could
call upon local NHS facilities without charge to the patient, even if they
did not see the patient under the NHS. The test was whether the patient was
entitled to receive GMS under the 1948 act not the status of the medical
practitioner. This is clearly different from a patient who is being seen by
a consultant during a private episode.
While the numbers of private GPs are probably small, this is a clear anomaly
since the private GP lies outside any purchasing consortium and is, in
effect, using the skills of others to generate personal income!
Most NHS GPs only undertake category 2 work (which should attract fees)
although many suffer the problem of having consultants refer back patients
to arrange laboratory tests. The question then arises 'Is this part of the
private (consultant) episode or is the GP taking a decision to accept or
reject the consultant's advice before re-referring?' If the first it should
be identified as private, if the latter it is NHS.
Those around in the 1980s will recall audits of income from non-NHS sources.
Many within the ACB have a responsibility to try to identify chargeable work
confusion such as the above does not help.
I believe that with the call for increasing partnership with the private
sector and the uncertainty over funding new tests it is time to press for
clearer, more robust, rules.
Trevor Tickner,
Norwich
P.S. Apologies to those outside the UK.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and is intended
only for the named recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient you
must not copy, distribute, or take any action or reliance on it. If you have
received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender. Any unauthorised
disclosure of the information contained in this e-mail is strictly
prohibited.
|