Private Health Screening through GP Surgeries
02/11/2010
Please find below a document advising practices about screening programmes in the independent sector. Whilst the document addresses issues related to GPs and the provision of services to their NHS patients, it does not address an issue we have become aware of in our conversations with practices.
Screening companies will sometimes approach surgeries to ask if they can rent rooms from the practice in order to undertake screening, usually in the evening or at weekends. Practices should consider the reputation of their practice and be cautious about such overtures, ensuring that they have no clinical contact with the provider. These companies usually advertise within a locality and not directly to patients of the practice, but practices need to be completely separate from the operations of these companies.