Private GP referrals policy: FOI release

Information requested

1. Scottish Government or Health Department policy/document(s). 

2. Meetings regarding private GP referrals.

Response

The answer to your question is that no formal process is in place with respect to the referral of patients from private GPs to the NHS.

Referrals may, on occasion, be accepted by a clinician operating within the NHS or by the Health Board, however this would be considered on a case by case basis and is a decision that is taken at a local level, not governed by the Scottish Government.

Patients can asked to be referred to NHS clinics by their registered GP. It is for GPs to exercise their own clinical judgement on whether a referral is necessary.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have records of meetings regarding Private GPs you have requested. This is because Private GPs, like all GPs are regulated by the General Medical Council and there is no Government policy with regards to provision of private GP services.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.