We are sometimes asked by other healthcare providers, including those in the private sector, to prescribe medication under a shared care arrangement. This means that we as GP’s take responsibility for prescribing the medication and for arranging appropriate monitoring. In many cases we are happy to do take on this responsibility and appreciate that providing more local care has many advantages for patients. However, we must ensure that we are prescribing within the limits of our knowledge, that the treatments have a strong evidence base and that we believe the treatment is beneficial to the patient. We must also be clear that the other healthcare provider that has asked us to prescribe is reputable and able to form a working relationship with us to help provide safe and effective care. If we feel that we are not able to prescribe medication, we will be clear as to the reasons why.