Crocus Medical Practice is committed to providing safe, equitable, and effective care for all patients. This policy outlines the Practice's position regarding follow-up care for patients who have undergone surgical procedures arranged privately overseas.

The policy is intended to ensure the appropriate use of NHS-funded services and to clarify responsibilities for post-operative care.

This policy applies to all clinical and administrative staff at Crocus Medical Practice and relates to requests for:

• Post-operative reviews and follow-up appointments
• Blood tests, scans, and other investigations
• Prescribing associated with private surgical procedures
• Monitoring and ongoing aftercare
• Shared-care arrangements relating to surgery undertaken privately overseas

Policy Statement

Surgical treatment arranged and funded privately overseas is considered a separate episode of care outside NHS commissioning arrangements.

Responsibility for routine follow-up care, monitoring, and post-operative management remains with the healthcare provider who performed the procedure.

Crocus Medical Practice is not commissioned or funded to provide routine aftercare services for privately arranged surgical treatment carried out overseas.

Services the Practice Will Not Routinely Provide

The Practice will not routinely undertake:

• Planned post-operative reviews or follow-up appointments relating solely to private overseas surgery.
• Blood tests, imaging, or other investigations requested by overseas or private healthcare providers.
• Prescribing medication solely for routine post-operative aftercare following private overseas surgery.
• Shared-care arrangements relating to privately funded surgical procedures performed overseas.
• Clinical monitoring requested as part of a private treatment package.

Patients should arrange these services directly with their overseas provider or through a UK-based private healthcare provider where appropriate.

Services the Practice Will Continue to Provide

Crocus Medical Practice will continue to provide NHS services in accordance with clinical need, including:

• Assessment and treatment of urgent or emergency complications arising from surgery where clinically appropriate.
• Management of existing NHS medical conditions.
• Treatment of new and unrelated medical conditions.
• Urgent referrals where required based on clinical assessment.
• Access to copies of NHS medical records in accordance with applicable regulations.

Any care provided will be based on clinical need and NHS commissioning arrangements.

Complications Following Surgery

Patients experiencing complications after surgery should seek medical advice promptly.

Examples may include:

• Severe or worsening pain
• Signs of infection
• Excessive bleeding
• Wound breakdown
• Fever
• Breathing difficulties
• Other significant concerns regarding their recovery

Patients should contact:

• Crocus Medical Practice during opening hours
• NHS 111 for urgent medical advice
• Emergency services or Accident & Emergency (A&E) for serious or life-threatening conditions

Any assessment undertaken by the Practice will focus on the immediate clinical concern and may not constitute ongoing post-operative follow-up care.

Patient Responsibilities

Patients considering surgery abroad should ensure that:

• The provider has appropriate qualifications and regulatory oversight.
• A clear aftercare and follow-up plan is in place before treatment.
• They understand how complications will be managed on their return to the UK.
• Suitable arrangements are made for any required private follow-up care.

Following surgery, patients are expected to:

• Contact their overseas surgeon or provider regarding routine aftercare.
• Arrange follow-up appointments through a UK-based private healthcare provider if required.
• Retain copies of surgical reports, discharge summaries, and relevant clinical documentation.

Professional Standards

Clinicians at Crocus Medical Practice must work within their professional competence, NHS contractual requirements, and clinical governance responsibilities.

Practice clinicians are not obliged to accept responsibility for care initiated outside NHS services and may decline requests that fall outside NHS-funded primary care responsibilities.

All decisions will be made in the best interests of patient safety and in accordance with current NHS guidance and professional standards.