Shared care – what is it?

• Shared care is a formal local agreement that enabled General Practitioners (GP’s) to accept responsibility for the safe prescribing and monitoring of specialist medicines
• It provides a transfer of care form the specialist to the GP, where this is in the best interest of the patient 
• The patients, however, is not usually discharged by the specialist and the GP and specialist share the care

What is the specialist role in shared care?

• The specialist confirms the diagnosis and start prescribing the medication
• They provide information to the patient about the medication and will  monitor the patient until the dose is stable
• Will write to the GP requesting share cared when the condition and medication are stable, but will continue to prescribe until the GP has agreed to take on the shared care.
• Review the medicine at regular intervals to ensure it is still safe and effective.

What is the role of the GP?

• Review the request from the specialist promptly, and where the GP does not agree to shared care, will inform the specialist within 14 days providing a reason
• If the GP accepts the shared care, they will prescribe, and monitor the medicine as set out by the specialist
• Report any side effects to the specialist
• Make sure the patient is given appointments for monitoring the medicine

What is the patient’s role in shared care?

• Take the medicine as agreed
• Request the repeat medication in good time
• Attend any follow up appointments with either the GP or specialist – or inform them they are not able to attend , and make another appointment

Is shared care possible between a private healthcare provider and a GP?

• This is ONLY possible when this service is being provided for the patient on behalf of the NHS
• If the patient is seeing a private specialist, and that service is not being provided on behalf of the NHS, medicines would need to be supplied by the private specialist
• If a patient would like to obtain shared care medication through the NHS, they should talk to the GP about having their care for their condition transferred to the local NHS.