Patient guide
Private GP and NHS: how referrals, prescriptions and results connect
Many people use both private and NHS care, and the boundary can be confusing. NHS GPs are not obliged to accept every private recommendation, and private test results are not automatically visible to the NHS. This guide explains how to keep care safe and joined up when you move between the two.
Last checked: 2026-10-03
Key facts
At a glance.
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Consent to share
Private providers and NHS GPs share information with your consent. Sharing helps safety.
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Prescribing is a clinical decision
An NHS GP decides independently whether to prescribe a medicine recommended privately, taking responsibility for it.
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Referral pathways
NHS referral to specialist services usually comes from an NHS GP, although recommendations from private doctors can be considered.
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Tests
Private tests are processed privately, and the results sit with the private provider unless shared.
Prescribing across the boundary
The General Medical Council expects any prescriber to take responsibility for medicines they prescribe. An NHS GP is therefore entitled to decide whether they are willing and competent to prescribe a medicine recommended by a private doctor, and some medicines require specialist initiation or monitoring. A GP may agree to continue prescribing under a shared-care arrangement, or decline. If they decline, they should explain why and, where possible, help you find an alternative. Ask your private doctor in advance what will happen if your GP will not prescribe.
Referrals
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A private GP can refer you to a private specialist directly.
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For NHS specialist care, an NHS GP usually makes the referral, although they may take into account private advice.
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If you are referred from private care to the NHS, you may re-enter the waiting list or pathway and some tests may be repeated.
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Some NHS pathways, such as those under Right to Choose in England, require a GP referral to a named provider.
Tests and imaging
Private blood tests and scans are reported to the requesting clinician. NHS laboratories do not usually accept private requests, and NHS GPs are not obliged to act on tests that were not requested through them, though they will usually review results you bring if clinically relevant. Keep copies of reports and images. If you transfer to NHS care, images may need to be uploaded or provided on disc.
Continuity and emergencies
Make sure that your NHS GP knows about any new diagnosis or long-term medicine. In an emergency, NHS services will treat you regardless of private arrangements. Carry a list of your medicines and conditions. If you rely on a private prescriber for ongoing medicines, discuss what will happen if the service closes or you cannot afford it.
Avoiding common problems
Ask the private provider whether they will write to your GP and what they will recommend. Ask your NHS GP how they handle private recommendations. Keep your own record of results and medicines. Avoid assuming the NHS will take over automatically. Clarify who monitors blood tests and who you contact if side effects occur.
Frequently asked
Questions people ask.
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions we hear most.
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Must my NHS GP prescribe what a private doctor recommends?
No. They make their own clinical decision and take responsibility for the prescription.
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Can I share my private test results?
Yes. You can give them to your GP or ask the provider to send them with your consent.
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Will private care affect my NHS care?
Not negatively in principle, but information gaps can cause problems if you do not share.
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What is shared care?
An agreement under which a specialist and GP share responsibility for prescribing and monitoring a medicine.
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Can I switch from private to NHS care?
Yes. Your NHS GP can refer you on NHS pathways, and you may join the usual waiting list.
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Do NHS hospitals accept private scans?
Often they can review them, but may repeat imaging if images are not accessible or inadequate.
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Will my GP charge for letters?
Practices may charge for some non-NHS letters or forms. Ask in advance.
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What if my private provider closes?
Keep your records and speak to your NHS GP about continuity of care.
Where this comes from
Sources and checking.
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP or consultant knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If your symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or come with red-flag features, seek urgent medical care. Figures and availability change, so treat them as a guide and confirm with the provider.
Published 2026-10-03, next review 2027-10-03.
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General Medical Council, Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices (gmc-uk.org)
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NHS England, Your choice of provider: Right to Choose guidance (england.nhs.uk)
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Care Quality Commission, guidance on registration of independent healthcare providers (cqc.org.uk)
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General Pharmaceutical Council, guidance for registered pharmacies providing services at a distance, including online (pharmacyregulation.org)