Shared Care with GPs
What is Shared Care?
In the UK, shared care between private healthcare providers and GPs refers to a formal agreement where a GP takes on the responsibility for prescribing and monitoring medications for a patient who is being treated by a private specialist. This works to reduce costs for the patient while ensuring they have the necessary expertise in place. This approach is consistent with the GMC guidance on the provision of prescriptions for patients with gender dysphoria in Primary Care.
The importance of regulation
As the UK's first independent provider of transgender healthcare to those aged 16 and over to be registered with the Care Quality Commission - the UK’s regulator for health and social services – the Gender Plus Hormone Clinic aims to work with your GP where possible in a shared care arrangement. Regulation serves as reassurance that the service we are providing has been scrutinised and can be trusted. In January 2024, the GPHC was rated Outstanding in its first inspection by the CQC which serves to further reassure GPs.
This approach is already proving highly successful, with around 70% of NHS GPs agreeing to enter into shared-care agreements with our service, and this number continues to grow.
Find out more by downloading our GP Guide to shared care.
Ireland
In Ireland, we also work with your primary care provider to ensure that as much of your care is delivered as local to you as possible. While Gender Plus Hormone Clinic will hold responsibility for issuing prescriptions and interpreting bloods, your GP will be asked to administer any injectable medications, arrange any blood tests and forward results to Gender Plus for interpretation.
Irish patients can benefit from income tax relief – typically 20% of the cost of appointments AND conversion of prescriptions into medical card prescriptions, where applicable. For more information visit: www.revenue.ie. Those without a medical card can qualify for the Drug Payment Scheme which caps the amount a household spends in one month. As of July 2025 household medication costs are capped at €80 per month.
Our service is also recognised by different insurance providers both in the UK and Ireland. The amount covered will depend on the individual plan. Those interested are advised to check with their private healthcare insurance provider and, where available, obtain an authorisation number. They can then contact us to arrange a first appointment, citing the authorisation number.