As a private GP, the BMA indicates "Private GPs are free to refer their patients to the NHS in the same way as NHS GPs can refer their patients to the private sector". Practically speaking, it is relatively easily for private GPs to refer into NHS for acute care, such as directing a patient to A&E or liaising with on-call NHS specialties. Additionally, it is also possible to make two weeks wait cancer referrals. For regular referrals, the pathways are less well formed and it may be easier to refer privately, or if ongoing care will be delivered by the patient's NHS GP, for the NHS GP to write the referral.
You will need to obtain local proformas and contact details for the 2WW team. There will typically be a preference for 2WW referrals to come via ERS, however as ERS is not available to private clinicians (currently), a 2WW cancer referral would need to be submitted via secure email (e.g. NHS mail, Egress).
If an NHS GP is going to coordinate a patient’s care, then it may be better for the referral to be made by the NHS GP. In this case, either you can attempt to make contact with the patient’s NHS GP, you could send notes back to the NHS GP (with consent), or print consultation notes for the patient to take to their NHS GP.
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