Referrals
Direct Access
Direct Access - For symptoms of cancer, mental health or muscle, bone and joint conditions, you may be able to use our Direct Access services.
If you are worried or experiencing symptoms of the above conditions, our Direct Access service is here to help.
You can call us directly for advice and treatment usually without the need for a GP referral.
Here are the referrals Bupa would accept, listed alphabetically
The following rules apply whether the referring healthcare provider is acting under the NHS or privately.
A&E NHS consultants and nurses can provide referrals for onward diagnosis or treatment if the patient’s condition is stable.
Please be aware, if you require urgent care and/or an emergency admission you should go direct to an NHS A&E, which is staffed 24 hours and can manage any medical emergency. Please note that Bupa doesn’t fund any direct admission into critical care or intensive care units.
An acupuncturist can provide a referral to a consultant to treat the symptoms the acupuncturist has seen the patient for.
An audiologist can refer to an ear, nose and throat specialist or an audio vestibular medicine consultant.
Please note, we’ll only fund treatment for hearing loss if your hearing has suddenly got worse and the aim of the treatment is to permanently restore your hearing to how it was previously. This is because most of our policies don’t cover deafness caused by a congenital abnormality, maturing or ageing.
A chiropractor can refer to a specialist to treat the muscle, bone or joint condition the chiropractor has seen the patient for.
Consultant to consultant referrals are accepted as this normally happens when it is in the best clinical interests of the patient or part of the clinical pathway in which the patient is being treated.
A dentist can provide a referral to an oral or maxillofacial consultant.
Our policies don't normally cover dental or oral treatment, but there are some exceptions. Please call us and we'll be happy to go through your benefits.
A dietitian can provide a referral to a specialist to treat the symptoms the dietitian has seen the patient for.
Our Bupa Blua Health digital GP service lets you talk to a doctor within hours by video or phone call, 24/7. If needed, the GP can provide you with an open referral letter.‡
Referrals to a specialist are accepted when they are provided during a face to face discussion with a clinician during a health assessment.
Midwives can refer to a specialist in the same way as a GP.
Please note, our policies normally don’t cover conditions which relate to pregnancy and childbirth, so please call us to check your available benefits.
An occupational health clinician can provide a referral to a specialist.
As occupational health technicians are not registered, we need a clinician to support any referral they make.
An osteopath can refer to a specialist to treat the muscle, bone or joint condition the osteopath has seen the patient for.
In certain situations, we can accept a referral for UK treatment from an overseas practitioner if:
- The symptoms can be triaged through our Direct Access services e.g. a mental health, muscle, bone or joint condition or symptoms of cancer or,
- Treatment overseas has started, and the patient had to be repatriated to continue this in the UK and the medical notes are available in legible English.
A physiotherapist can provide a referral to a specialist to treat the symptoms the physiotherapist has seen the patient for.
A podiatrist can provide a referral to a specialist to treat the foot and ankle condition the podiatrist has seen the patient for.
†Customers who live on the Isle of Man, or have a Bupa Standard, Bupa Premium or Bupa Your Choice policy, do not have access to Bupa Blua Health, but can access GP24 provided by HealthHero. Some corporate schemes don't include access to Bupa Blua Health or GP24, so please check your scheme documents or give us a call.
‡ In some cases, in-clinic diagnostics will be needed. You’ll need a referral from either your GP or from Bupa Blua Health before you make any arrangements. You’ll need to contact Bupa to pre-authorise any tests before booking, and the contact details are in your policy guide.
Bupa Blua Health is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Bupa Blua Health is provided by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, registered in England and Wales with number 3829851. Digital GP services are powered by eMed Healthcare UK Limited, registered in England and Wales with number 15086104, Registered Office: 184-192 Drummond Street, London, England, NW1 3HP.
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ.
