To ask the Minister of Health whether there are any guidelines in place for GPs to prescribe medication recommended by a private specialist consultant.

The legacy Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) issued correspondence on a number of occasions to private providers and general practice, most recently in June 2021, regarding requests for HSC prescriptions following private consultation. The purpose of this correspondence was to remind both sectors of their clinical responsibilities in relation to prescribing of medications to patients under their care. In particular, the limitations with regards to requests to GPs for transfer of ongoing prescribing of medication which for the patient’s GP may not be clinically acceptable. This guidance still applies.

To further clarify appropriate arrangements, the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) issued ‘Private (non-HSC) Prescribing Requests Guidance for Primary Care’ in September 2024. The new guidance (attached) provides a reminder that the legal responsibility for prescribing lies with the prescriber who signs the prescription, and it is the responsibility of the individual prescriber to prescribe within their own level of competence and scope of practice.

The prescription of any medication associated with private healthcare should be managed by the private provider. Whilst there is no obligation on GPs to prescribe, in instances where a GP considers that the medication being requested is clinically appropriate, falls within their area of competence, does not breach the terms of their contract or indemnity cover, and is in keeping with the General Medical Council (GMC) guidance on Good Medical Practice, then they may choose to prescribe.

Supplementary advice to GP practices, relating to pre and/or post treatment support in primary care to individuals procuring private healthcare services, was issued by my department 20 November 2024. It advises that, where a GP is made aware of an individual’s plans to procure private healthcare in a private capacity, it is recommended that:

The individual is encouraged to ensure all pre and post treatment costs are included in the overall package;

The individual is informed that they may have to pay for ongoing treatment or medications which are recommended.