Shared Care Arrangements

Working with your GP, where that's possible.

Shared Care is an arrangement in which responsibility for a Service user's ongoing treatment is shared between MHWS and their GP. It can apply whether you access our services privately or through the NHS - what matters is clinical appropriateness and your GP's agreement, not your route into care.

What is Shared Care?

Where clinically appropriate, MHWS may undertake specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and medication stabilisation before discussing the possibility of a Shared Care Agreement with your GP. This allows some elements of ongoing care to be delivered through your GP practice, under MHWS's specialist oversight.

Shared Care requires agreement between you, MHWS and your GP practice. Participation is entirely at your GP's discretion - it is not guaranteed, and not every GP practice will agree to it. Your clinician will discuss whether it may be appropriate for your circumstances.

Our Approach to Shared Care

Where Shared Care is clinically appropriate and your GP agrees to participate, we provide the information needed to support it, which may include:

• Assessment reports
• Diagnostic information
• Treatment recommendations
• Medication history
• Monitoring requirements
• Review arrangements
• Communication regarding any changes to treatment

If Shared Care Isn't Available

Not every GP practice will agree to a Shared Care arrangement, and there's no obligation on them to do so. Where this is the case, MHWS continues to provide your ongoing treatment and monitoring directly - see Ongoing Treatment for what this involves. Your clinician will discuss the options available to you if Shared Care isn't possible in your case.

Working with Your GP

Where Shared Care is in place, we communicate with your GP to help ensure continuity of care and to provide relevant clinical information that supports safe treatment.

Communication with your GP will always be undertaken in accordance with your consent and relevant legal and professional requirements, except where disclosure is required in the interests of Service user safety or as otherwise permitted by law. For more detail on how we collect, use and store your information, please see our Privacy Notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everyone receive Shared Care?

No. Shared Care is not appropriate for every Service user or every treatment, and depends on your GP's agreement. Your clinician will discuss whether it's suitable for your individual circumstances.

Is my GP required to enter into Shared Care?

No. Participation is entirely at the discretion of your GP practice - this applies equally whether you're an NHS or a private Service user. Where Shared Care isn't available, we'll discuss the alternative options for continuing your treatment.

Our Commitment

Shared Care is built on communication, collaboration and trust between you, MHWS and your GP practice. Where it isn't possible, that doesn't change the care you receive from us - see Ongoing Treatment for how we continue to support you directly.