Shared Care Agreements: An Overview and Our Practice’s Policy Update
What Are Shared Care Agreements?
Shared care agreements are a critical aspect of collaborative healthcare, enabling different healthcare providers to share the responsibility for a patient’s treatment. These agreements often involve a specialist and a general practitioner (GP), working together to ensure that a patient receives the most comprehensive care possible. The specialist, typically based in a hospital or clinic, initiates treatment and then works alongside the GP to continue patient care in the community. This approach ensures that patients benefit from expert advice while receiving ongoing support closer to home.
Policy Update on Shared Care Agreements
We wish to inform our patients and referring specialists of an important update to our shared care agreement policy. After a thorough review of our capacity, resources, and the guidelines set forth by the British Medical Association (BMA) and the General Medical Council (GMC), we have made the following adjustments:
- Continuation of Shared Care Agreements with Local NHS Commissioned Services: We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to shared care agreements in collaboration with local NHS specialist services. For the vast majority of our patients, this means there will be no change in the way your care is managed and provided. We will continue to work closely with local NHS specialists to ensure seamless and comprehensive care for all conditions covered by these agreements.
- Update on Shared Care Agreements with Private Sector Consultants: Due to the specific challenges and constraints associated with shared care prescribing involving private sector consultants, including funding and resource allocation, we have made the difficult decision to no longer accept new shared care prescribing requests from the private sector. This change is aimed at ensuring we can maintain the highest standards of care for all our patients, within the scope of services we are commissioned to provide.
Options for Patients Affected by This Change:
- Patients currently under the care of a private specialist who wish to explore shared care options are advised to continue receiving their prescriptions directly from their private provider.
- Alternatively, patients may consider transferring their care to an NHS specialist, where possible, to facilitate a shared care arrangement with our practice.
- We are committed to supporting our patients through this transition and encourage those with concerns or questions to reach out to us for guidance and assistance.
Our Dedication to Patient Care
This policy update reflects our ongoing dedication to patient safety, high-quality care, and the sustainable provision of healthcare services. We understand that changes to our policies may impact our patients and their families, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
For further information, or if you have any questions regarding this update, please do not hesitate to contact our practice. Your health and well-being remain our top priority, and we are dedicated to ensuring that all our patients receive the best possible care.