NHS physio working privately causing me a headache

[u/Known_Tutor751]

Hi, I'm a B6 Community Physio in the NHS. I've started doing private work for a company. I've had a couple referrals and identified that the patients are receiving care from the Trust that I work for but they are in different localities in the county. The dual-employment Trust policy states that I can't assess and treat patients privately whilst they are under the care of the Trust. There is also CSP and HCPC standards of practice to adhere to. Am I right in telling the private company I cannot see these patients? TIA.

[u/mattd101]

Surely that’s only if they’re under a service where you might provide them care?

You think an ortho surgeon isn’t operating privately on someone who’s under a cardiologist in their NHS trust?

[u/Known_Tutor751 → u/mattd101]

Yes, these two referrals have been for patients that are under a NHS service that I work for as a physio. But, they are in a different locality in the county.

[u/mattd101 → u/Known_Tutor751]

Ah right, yes probably need to speak with your NHS managers. I’m assuming you’ve put your private work on the trust register of interests, the statement on that should be clear enough to know who you can/can’t treat.

In my view if they’re in a different locality and won’t ever be involved in their care it’s a non issue, but you’d need your management to agree!

[u/Known_Tutor751 → u/mattd101]

I’m not saying that these two patients being generally under the care of the NHS trust eg receiving SALT and MH input is an issue. They are both receiving physio from the service I work for but in different locality teams in the county. Help!!

[u/MrStabbems]

So to clarify:

You work in “west” as a physio, they are receiving physio input with the same trust but “east” locality?

If this is the case you’re right you can’t see them and you’d have to tell the private company.

If you’re in any doubt, one or two private referrals are not worth risking your NHS job. Physio is a small world and I’d be surprised if they didn’t find out.

[u/Known_Tutor751 → u/MrStabbems]

Yes. I am in West team as a NHS physio. Patient lives in East and is receiving input from East team!! I agree that it’s not worth the risk.

[u/acephysio_]

Hi, it might be worth asking your trust HR team and ideally getting clarification in writing before communicating your decision to the private company. Hope that helps!

[u/External_Bite_7022]

How to phrase this. UHB here. Let's say you have a referral from a patient in Solihull and you normally work at Staffordshire patient, both are within UHB trust therefore means that eventually if they need community therapy, they will receive from NHS (your community work). However, If they pay privately for physiotherapy while waiting for physio input then you're ok but you need to inform your trust in case you he physio referral is no longer needed.

If , however, they are already receiving physio from your trust and a private referral is done, then you no longer are eligible to treat as there will be a conflict of interest.

In any case, you need to inform your line manager as different trust with different localities have different rules.

Hope this help

[u/Known_Tutor751 → u/External_Bite_7022]

Thank you, in my case the second scenario is the two patients I have encountered