By Mr Simon Radley, Founder and Consultant Surgeon

It is common for patients to ask about private healthcare during an NHS consultation. This usually comes up when they are facing long waiting times, want to explore alternatives, or have private medical insurance or are prepared to self-fund their treatment. While patients have the right to choose private care, clinicians must follow clear professional and organisational rules. 

The rules

Patients are entitled to seek private medical treatment alongside their NHS care. However, there are important rules to follow: 

• NHS and private care must remain separate. A patient cannot receive part of their treatment privately and then continue the same episode of care within the NHS without proper arrangements. 

• NHS clinicians cannot offer private services during an NHS clinic. Any discussion about private healthcare must take place outside NHS time and premises, unless the Trust has an approved pathway. 

• NHS access must remain fair. Patients must not be treated differently in terms of access to NHS services simply because they are considering or have received private treatment.

How to respond in clinic 

If a patient raises the possibility of going private, you should: 

• Acknowledge their request professionally – thank them for raising the point and reassure them that their NHS care will continue to meet the same high clinical standards. 

• Provide neutral information – explain that patients are entitled to explore private treatment, but NHS staff cannot actively promote or arrange this within the NHS clinic. If your Trust has a leaflet or pathway, signpost them to it. 

• Keep the boundary clear – ensure the discussion about private options does not interfere with the NHS consultation. 

• Document the discussion – record in the patient’s NHS notes that they expressed an interest in private care and that you provided information on the appropriate pathway. 

• Signpost appropriately – direct the patient to the Private Patients Office or your private secretary for further details, ensuring accurate information without blurring NHS and private boundaries. 

Key points for clinicians

When discussing private care, clinicians should always maintain a neutral and professional approach. Information can be shared, but without comparing NHS and private services. Private quotes or bookings must never be offered during an NHS clinic, and any conversation about private care should be documented in accordance with local Trust policies.

If a patient requests further information, they should be referred to your private secretary or the hospital’s Private Patients Office.