How much can a private consultant ask an NHS GP to do?

So I'd like to get my cortisol levels tested but I'm low on funds at the moment.

I have a consultation with my private endo soon and I wondered if he can ask my GP to test it? I've done so many private blood tests so far because the GP refused I'm just wondering if I can forgo the cost of this one!

*edit:* I just checked, out of curiosity. Since Sept 2020 I've spent £1,060 on private thyroid and vitamin testing. 😲

[Lalatoot]

If the endo is totally private then the GP has no obligation. If the endo is private and NHS then the endo could slip you onto their NHS list if they were in the same area as you and willing to do so - in which case the GP would need to pay attention to an NHS endo.

[Hidden in reply to Lalatoot]

Sadly, he's in the CCG over. 😩

You'd hope that regardless of NHS/Private that a GP would pay attention to a consultant. If only because they're the experts.

I wonder how medicine would look if costs were no issue.

[Lalatoot in reply to Hidden]

Yes I wonder. I do think it is time for the NHS to have an overhaul to be able to provide a solid basic service for all. One of the problems where I live is that we cannot recruit doctors - my home town (population 7,000) no longer has a permanent GP.

[Hidden in reply to Lalatoot]

I used to work in social care and used to get so cross with government cuts because they were always to social care. If the government put actual money into social care; particularly early interventions they would actually save enormously in the long term.

Same with medicine. Imagine if you poured money into training and support for Dr's and GP's so that each GP was guaranteed reasonable set hours for a proper salary.

I know that's enormously oversimplified but cutting health and social care finding is so short sighted.