At London Paediatric Clinic, you do not usually need a GP referral to arrange a private paediatric cardiology appointment when paying for the consultation yourself. You can contact the clinic directly, although a referral letter or previous medical records may still help the cardiologist understand your child’s symptoms, medical history and earlier investigations.
Private medical insurance works differently. Many policies require a referral or an insurer-approved assessment pathway, as well as authorisation before the consultation or tests are covered. Check your policy before booking because being able to arrange an appointment directly does not necessarily mean that your insurer will pay for it.
Is a GP Referral Always Required?
A GP referral is not usually required for a self-funded appointment at London Paediatric Clinic. However, referral arrangements vary between providers, so parents booking elsewhere should confirm the clinic’s policy before arranging the consultation.
A referral can still be valuable because it provides a clinical summary, including relevant symptoms, examination findings, medicines, family history and previous tests. NHS advice recommends obtaining a referral letter before seeing a private specialist, even when the private provider accepts direct bookings.
How Is Private Referral Different From an NHS Referral?
An NHS hospital specialist appointment usually requires a referral from a GP or another authorised healthcare professional. A private provider may accept a direct booking, but this depends on the clinic, consultant and payment arrangements.
Your child can continue receiving NHS care after a private consultation, but the funding and clinical responsibilities for private and NHS care should remain clearly separated. Paying for a private appointment does not provide priority within the NHS, and any NHS assessment or treatment will be offered according to clinical need, eligibility and the receiving service’s criteria.
A private specialist may refer your child directly to an appropriate NHS service when they meet the relevant eligibility requirements. However, the NHS service must still assess and accept the referral, and private payment does not guarantee that a recommended investigation or treatment will be provided through the NHS.
What Does Self-Referral Mean?
Self-referral means contacting the private clinic directly rather than asking your GP to send a referral first. You may be asked to complete a booking form or provide information about your child’s symptoms, medical history and previous investigations.
Self-referral is intended for planned specialist care and does not replace urgent assessment. The clinic may advise that your child needs a different specialist, an initial GP assessment or emergency NHS care depending on the information you provide.
What Happens If You Are Paying for the Appointment Yourself?
If you are paying for your child’s appointment yourself, you will usually be responsible for the consultation fee as well as the cost of any tests or follow-up appointments. Although many private clinics accept self-referrals, some may still recommend or require a GP referral depending on the service provided.
Before you book, ask what is included in the quoted price and whether investigations such as an ECG or echocardiogram are charged separately. It is also worth asking about follow-up fees, cancellation policies and how any additional costs will be discussed and approved before further tests are arranged.
Do You Need a Referral When Using Private Medical Insurance?
Many private medical insurance policies require a GP referral or another insurer-approved referral pathway before specialist care will be covered. Some insurers offer direct-access services for selected conditions, so the exact requirements depend on your policy rather than on one universal insurance rule.
Contact your insurer before booking and ask whether a referral is required, whether the consultant and hospital are recognised and whether you need a claim or authorisation number. Confirming these details does not guarantee that every later test, follow-up appointment or treatment will also be covered.
Why Should You Contact Your Insurer Before Booking?
Contacting your insurer before booking can help you understand exactly what your policy covers and reduce the risk of unexpected costs. They can confirm whether your child needs a referral, if pre-authorisation is required and which consultants or hospitals are included in your plan.
It is also worth checking whether diagnostic tests, follow-up appointments and any additional treatment require separate approval, as these are not always covered automatically. Before you book, ask about your excess, outpatient limits and whether any policy exclusions or pre-existing condition rules may apply.
Clinical Tip
Before arranging the appointment, ask whether your child needs a referral, which professionals are accepted as referrers, whether the chosen cardiologist and clinic are covered, whether ECGs or echocardiograms need separate authorisation and what excess or outpatient limits apply. Record the authorisation number and the name of the adviser you spoke to in case the cover needs to be checked later.
Open Referral vs Named Referral
Your GP may provide either an open referral or a named referral when your child needs to see a paediatric cardiologist. Understanding the difference can help you choose the right option and avoid unexpected costs by confirming cover with your insurer before booking an appointment.
| Feature | Open Referral | Named Referral | Why It Matters |
| Referral type | Refers your child to a type of specialist without naming a consultant | Recommends a specific paediatric cardiologist | Determines how your appointment is arranged |
| Choosing a specialist | Your insurer may suggest an approved specialist | You are referred to a particular consultant | May affect which doctors are covered by your policy |
| Best suited for | Families who want insurer-approved options | Children already under a specialist or needing specific expertise | Helps match the referral to your child’s needs |
| Insurance approval | Cover should be confirmed before booking | Cover should also be confirmed before booking | Prevents unexpected treatment costs |
| Consultant flexibility | Allows greater flexibility in choosing an approved specialist | Limited to the named consultant unless changed | Can influence appointment availability |
| Key consideration | Does not guarantee access to every specialist | A GP recommendation does not guarantee insurance cover | Always check consultant, hospital and test cover with your insurer |
Who Can Provide the Referral?
For paediatric cardiology, many insurers require a referral from a GP. Depending on the policy, this may be provided by your child’s NHS GP, a private GP or an insurer-provided digital GP. Direct-access pathways may be available for selected conditions, but they may not apply to children or paediatric cardiology, so confirm the accepted referral route with your insurer before booking.
Tell the referring GP that the appointment will be private and whether insurance is being used. If the insurer requires an open referral, the letter should identify paediatric cardiology as the relevant speciality. If a named referral is provided, contact the insurer before booking to confirm that the consultant and clinic are covered.
How Can You Book Without a GP Referral?
If you would like to book without a GP referral, contact the private clinic first and explain your child’s symptoms, along with whether you are paying yourself or using private medical insurance. Ask if the clinic accepts self-referrals and whether a referral letter is recommended, even if it is not required.
If direct booking is available, you may be asked to complete a medical history form before your appointment is confirmed. The clinic can explain what information is needed, discuss appointment availability and tell you whether tests such as an ECG, echocardiogram or heart-rhythm monitor can be arranged if the cardiologist recommends them after assessing your child.
What Information Will the Clinic Ask For?
When you contact the clinic, you will usually be asked for your child’s personal details, your contact information and a brief description of their symptoms. Explain when the symptoms started, how often they occur and whether they happen during exercise, rest, feeding or illness.
Tell the clinic about fainting during exercise, significant breathing difficulty, chest pain associated with fainting or palpitations, and any family history of an inherited heart condition or unexplained sudden death at a young age. These details can help the clinic understand whether your child may need a routine appointment, earlier clinical review or emergency assessment.
When Should You Seek Emergency Help?
Call 999 if your child is not breathing or has severe breathing difficulty. Also call 999 if they cannot be woken within one minute after fainting, have not fully recovered, have difficulty speaking or moving, faint during exercise or while lying down, or faint with chest pain or a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat. Emergency help is also needed if they are shaking or jerking because of a suspected seizure or fit, or have seriously injured themselves.
Call 999 if your child’s lips, tongue, face or skin suddenly turn blue or grey. On brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms, soles, lips, gums or inside the eyelids. If only the fingers, toes, hands or feet appear blue or grey and your child is responsive and breathing normally, contact NHS 111 for urgent advice.
What Should You Take to the Appointment?
Bring any relevant medical documents to your child’s appointment, including a GP referral letter if you have one, previous clinic letters, hospital discharge summaries and test reports. It is also helpful to take an up-to-date list of your child’s medicines, doses and allergies, including any over-the-counter treatments or supplements.
If your child has had previous heart tests, ask whether the cardiologist would like the original recordings or images as well as the written reports. If you are using private medical insurance, bring your membership and authorisation details, while self-funded families should confirm the clinic’s payment arrangements before the appointment.
What Happens During the First Consultation?
During your child’s first consultation, the cardiologist will ask about their symptoms, medical history, development and any family history of heart conditions. Your child will usually have a physical examination, which may include checking their pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation and listening to their heart and lungs.
If needed, the cardiologist may recommend an ECG to assess the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm, an echocardiogram to examine its structure, valve movement, pumping function and blood flow, or portable monitoring to record the heart rhythm over a longer period. The investigations are selected according to your child’s symptoms and examination findings, so not every child needs the same tests.
Will Tests Be Performed on the Same Day?
An ECG, echocardiogram or another investigation may be available during the same visit when it is clinically appropriate and the necessary staff and equipment are available. However, tests are not automatically included with every consultation and may need to be arranged separately.
Before attending, ask whether any tests have been planned, what the quoted price includes and when results will be discussed. Insured families should confirm whether each investigation requires separate authorisation, while self-funded families should receive clear information about additional costs before agreeing to proceed.
Can Your GP Refuse to Provide a Private Referral?
Your GP will use their clinical judgement when deciding whether specialist assessment is appropriate. They may need to examine your child first, review existing records, recommend initial investigations or suggest a different specialist or NHS pathway.
If your insurer requires a GP referral and your GP agrees that specialist assessment is clinically appropriate, BMA guidance describes providing the referral as NHS contractual work. The GP remains responsible for the decision to refer and for the clinical information included in the letter. Whether the referral should be open or name a particular consultant should be confirmed with both the GP and the insurer before booking.
If your GP does not consider the requested referral clinically appropriate, they should explain the available alternatives. You may still be able to contact a clinic that accepts self-funded self-referrals, but booking directly may not meet your insurer’s referral requirements.
What Happens After the Private Appointment?
After the appointment, the cardiologist should explain the findings and whether your child needs reassurance, further tests, treatment or follow-up. With your consent, ask for a copy of the clinic letter to be sent to your child’s GP so that their NHS medical record remains up to date.
The private specialist or provider should normally remain responsible for arranging investigations, prescriptions and follow-up that form part of the private episode of care. Your NHS GP may agree to act on a private recommendation when they consider it clinically appropriate, have the necessary information and are willing and able to accept clinical responsibility.
Your GP is not automatically required to arrange every investigation, prescription or monitoring request made by a private provider. If responsibility is formally transferred to an NHS clinician or service, the receiving clinician will decide what care is appropriate within the NHS pathway.
UK Guidance Note
UK guidance allows patients to receive private care while continuing to use NHS services, but the funding and clinical responsibilities should remain clear. Private providers remain responsible for private treatment unless an NHS clinician or service formally accepts responsibility, and a private consultation does not give preferential access to NHS investigations or treatment.
Myth vs Fact
| Myth | Fact |
| Every private paediatric cardiology appointment legally requires a GP referral. | London Paediatric Clinic states that a GP referral is not usually required for a private paediatric appointment, although a referral letter or previous medical records may still be helpful. Other providers may have different booking policies. |
| Paying privately means your GP no longer needs to be involved. | Your child can continue receiving NHS GP care, and sharing the specialist’s report may help coordinate future treatment. |
| Health insurance automatically covers any private cardiologist you choose. | Insurance cover depends on the policy and may be limited to recognised specialists, approved hospitals or insurer-authorised referral pathways. Contact the insurer before booking. |
| A consultation authorisation number covers every test. | ECGs, echocardiograms, monitors and other investigations may need separate approval under your policy. |
| An open referral means your child can see any specialist without checking. | An open referral identifies the speciality, but the insurer may still select or approve the consultant. |
| Booking privately is suitable when your child has a medical emergency. | Severe breathing difficulty, sudden blue or grey colouring, unresponsiveness or serious deterioration requires urgent NHS emergency care rather than a routine private appointment. |
Key Takeaways
- London Paediatric Clinic does not usually require a GP referral for a self-funded private paediatric appointment.
- A referral letter may still provide useful information about your child’s symptoms, medical history and previous tests.
- Many insurance policies require a referral or insurer-approved pathway and pre-authorisation before specialist care is covered.
- Being able to book directly does not automatically mean that your insurer will reimburse the consultation or tests.
- Ask whether ECGs, echocardiograms, follow-up visits and other investigations are included or charged separately.
- Private and NHS care can continue alongside each other, but their funding and clinical responsibilities should remain clear.
- Do not wait for a private appointment if your child is not breathing, has severe breathing difficulty, suddenly develops blue or grey lips, tongue, face or skin, has reduced responsiveness, does not fully recover after fainting, or faints during exercise or while lying down.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a GP referral to see a private paediatric cardiologist?
At London Paediatric Clinic, a GP referral is not usually required when you are arranging a private appointment directly. Other clinics may have different policies. When using insurance, check whether your policy requires a referral, an approved digital assessment or pre-authorisation before booking.
2. Can I book a private paediatric cardiology appointment directly?
Yes, many private providers allow parents to contact the clinic directly and arrange an appointment. However, booking policies vary, so it is best to check with the clinic whether self-referral is accepted.
3. Why is a GP referral helpful even if it is not required?
A GP referral can provide the cardiologist with useful information about your child’s symptoms, medical history, medicines, examination findings and previous investigations. This can help the specialist prepare for the consultation and decide whether any further assessment may be appropriate.
4. Will my private health insurance cover a paediatric cardiology consultation?
Cover depends on your policy, the referral pathway used and whether the cardiologist and clinic are recognised by your insurer. Many policies require authorisation before the appointment. Ask whether diagnostic tests and follow-up consultations need separate approval, as an authorisation number for the consultation may not cover every service.
5. What is the difference between an open referral and a named referral?
An open referral recommends a speciality, such as paediatric cardiology, without naming a specific consultant. A named referral identifies a particular specialist. Some insurers prefer open referrals so they can direct you to an approved consultant within their network.
6. What information will I need when booking a private appointment?
You will usually be asked for your child’s personal details, GP information, a brief description of their symptoms, details of any previous heart tests and, if applicable, your insurance membership and authorisation number.
7. Can my child have heart tests on the same day as the consultation?
Same-day testing may be possible when it is clinically appropriate and the necessary staff and equipment are available. It is not guaranteed, so ask the clinic whether tests have been arranged, whether they are included in the appointment price and whether separate insurance authorisation is required.
8. What should I bring to my child’s paediatric cardiology appointment?
Bring any GP referral letter, previous clinic letters, hospital discharge summaries, ECG or echocardiogram reports, a list of your child’s medications and allergies, and your insurance details if you are claiming through private medical insurance.
9. Can my NHS GP continue to care for my child after a private consultation?
Yes. Your child can continue receiving NHS care after a private consultation. Ask the private cardiologist to send a clinic letter to your GP with your consent. Your GP will consider any recommendations but is not automatically required to arrange private tests, issue requested prescriptions or accept ongoing specialist responsibility.
10. Should I book a private cardiology appointment if my child has emergency symptoms?
No. A routine private appointment is not appropriate for a medical emergency. Call 999 if your child is not breathing, has severe difficulty breathing, cannot be woken within one minute after fainting, has not fully recovered, has difficulty speaking or moving, faints during exercise or while lying down, or faints with chest pain or a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat. Emergency help is also needed if they are shaking or jerking because of a suspected seizure or fit, have seriously injured themselves or suddenly develop blue or grey lips, tongue, face or skin.
Final Thoughts: Arranging a Private Paediatric Cardiology Appointment
A GP referral is not always required for a self-funded private paediatric cardiology appointment, but the clinic’s current booking policy should be confirmed before you arrange the consultation. If you are using private medical insurance, contact your insurer first to check the referral, pre-authorisation, recognised-consultant and test-coverage requirements.
A referral letter can still provide useful clinical background, including your child’s symptoms, medicines, family history and previous investigations. If your child needs a planned heart assessment, you can contact London Paediatric Clinic to arrange a consultation with a paediatric cardiologist in London and discuss the referral information required before the appointment.
References:
- London Paediatric Clinic (no date) Can you see a paediatrician without a GP referral? Available at: https://www.londonpaediatricclinic.co.uk/can-you-see-paediatrician-without-gp-referral/
- NHS (2023) Referrals for specialist care. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/referrals-for-specialist-care/
- Bupa (2026) How does private health insurance work? Available at: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-insurance/understanding-health-insurance/how-does-pmi-work
- Bupa (no date) Making a health insurance claim. Available at: https://www.bupa.co.uk/help-and-support/making-a-claim
- AXA Health (no date) Personal member help and claims. Available at: https://www.axahealth.co.uk/member-help/
- British Medical Association (2023) General practice responsibility in responding to private healthcare. Available at: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/managing-workload/general-practice-responsibility-in-responding-to-private-healthcare
- NHS (2023) Blue or grey skin or lips (cyanosis). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/blue-skin-or-lips-cyanosis/
- NHS (2023) Fainting. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fainting/
- Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust (2024) ‘Syncope (fainting) in children and young people’. Available at: https://www.kingstonandrichmond.nhs.uk/patients-and-families/patient-leaflets/syncope-fainting-children-and-young-people