General principles
What is shared care?
Shared care is a service whereby certain medications can be started by a specialist. Once a patient is stable, usually for more than 3 months, GPs may be able to continue prescribing and monitoring with clear guidance on regular reviews by the specialist and clear, timely access to specialist support if needed.
What are Westgate Practice’s principles for shared care?
These are in line with national guidance:
- Shared care is entirely voluntary for GPs. We may decline for any reason, which may include clinical safety, lack of governance regarding monitoring, follow up/timely review or capacity.
- We only consider accepting shared care with local providers. This is in common with many GP practices nationally.
NHS right to choose, private providers and new patients
Do you accept shared care with NHS right to choose or private providers?
- No, we do not accept shared care with NHS right to choose or private providers, for the reasons above, so we can focus on the core contractual requirements of caring for our patients.
Can you refer me to NHS right to choose or private providers?
- We may be able to do this if you provide appropriate information about where you would like to be referred.
What happens if I am diagnosed by NHS right to choose or private providers?
- Once we receive a diagnosis, we can refer you to our local service.
- Until the local service has assessed and stabilised you, any medications or monitoring (this includes blood tests, ECGs, etc.) will need to be arranged by your right to choose or private provider.
- Please note, this applies even if the service is geographically distant, as you have made a choice to be referred to them rather than locally and they are commissioned (funded) to do these tests.
What happens if I join the practice with shared care from a previous practice?
- Our team will assess your previous shared care agreement and, if this is felt to be safe/clinically appropriate, we may be able to prescribe for a maximum of 6 months.
- We will refer you to our local provider at the same time which should allow plenty of time for the local service to assess you and provide us with a local shared care agreement.
- If they have not, we will no longer be able to safely prescribe and will advise you to contact the local provider for all queries, medications and monitoring.
What happens if I am currently prescribed a shared care medication under NHS right to choose or private providers?
- Given the new policy, we will be referring all such patients to the local provider, giving them a full 6 months to review your case and issue us with a local shared care agreement.
- If they have not done this after 6 months, we will no longer be able to safely prescribe and will advise you to contact the local provider for all queries, medications and monitoring.