We are seeing an increasing number of patients asking Ratby Medical Centre to take over their care following private consultations, private treatment, or care received abroad (outside of the NHS). In some cases, we may be able to help, however very often we are not able to provide the tests, prescriptions, monitoring, or follow-up that has been requested.
Where a GP declines to take over care from a private or specialist provider, this is because we are being asked to provide care that is outside the remit, expertise, or safe scope of general practice. It is not appropriate or safe for a GP to undertake monitoring or follow-up for conditions that are normally managed by hospital specialists.
It is also important to understand that GP practices do not have access to the same investigations, monitoring, or specialist tests that are available in hospitals or private clinics.
It is not possible to list every test or type of follow-up that we can or cannot provide. However, when we decline to take over monitoring or ongoing care, this decision is always made in the interests of patient safety.
Some key points for guidance:
-
We do not undertake blood tests or blood monitoring unless:
-
A GP at Ratby Medical Centre has requested the test, or
-
A local NHS consultant has provided an NHS blood test request form.
-
GPs must be able to safely interpret and act upon any test results requested. We are frequently asked to carry out tests that GPs are not trained to interpret or that require specialist oversight.
-
We do not have access to the full range of hospital or private blood tests. If a specialist can request a test, this does not mean it is available in general practice.
-
We cannot prescribe all medications. GP prescribing is governed by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) formulary. If a private or specialist provider recommends a medication that is not on this formulary, we may not be able to prescribe it.
-
Even if a private specialist is willing to “hand over” care, the final decision always rests with the GP, based on whether it is clinically safe and appropriate.
We recognise that some patients travel long distances to access highly specialised care. Unfortunately, this does not mean we are able to take over follow-up or monitoring unless the GP is confident it is safe to do so.
Private providers may also suggest treatments or procedures that are not available on the NHS. While there are limited routes to apply for specialist funding, these are very restricted, difficult to secure, and decisions sit with the ICB — not the GP practice.
Please understand that if we decline to take over specialist care, monitoring, or follow-up, this is not to make things difficult, but because we do not have the access, expertise, or resources required to provide safe care.
Follow-Up Care After Procedures Carried Out Outside the UK
We are increasingly seeing patients returning to the UK after surgery abroad without adequate medical documentation or a clear aftercare plan.
If you undergo surgery abroad, you must return with full written documentation detailing:
You will need to arrange ongoing follow-up with a private provider in the UK. NHS GPs are not able to provide routine surgical follow-up for procedures carried out abroad without appropriate specialist correspondence.
Acute issues such as suspected post-operative infection may be assessed by a GP or referred urgently to hospital where appropriate.
Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery
(Gastric band, sleeve, bypass)
Bariatric surgery is one of the most common reasons patients travel abroad for private treatment.
NHS GP practices do not provide specialist surgical follow-up or monitoring for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, as this requires specialist expertise. This follow-up must be provided by the surgical team or an appropriate specialist service, usually for at least 1–2 years post-procedure, until the patient is stable.
Patients who undergo bariatric surgery on the NHS are routinely followed up by specialist services for a prolonged period before care returns to the GP. The same arrangements must be made when surgery is carried out privately or overseas.
A final note
Ratby Medical Centre is a primary care general practice. We are funded and trained to provide general medical care, and there will always be situations where specialist input is the only safe and appropriate option.
We thank patients for their understanding and cooperation in helping us provide safe, effective care for everyone.
