Fair Use Policy

At Shilpa Dave Health, we are committed to providing timely, high-quality, and personalised GP care for all our members.

This Fair Use Policy exists to:

• Support safe, clinically appropriate use of GP consultations
• Protect access, continuity, and appointment availability for all members
• Ensure our service remains sustainable, responsive, and fair

This policy is designed to guide responsible use of GP services — not to restrict care when it is genuinely needed.

This policy applies to:

• All Personal Care and Family Care members
• All GP consultations, whether:
  • Face-to-face
  • Video
  • Telephone

It covers how GP consultations are typically used, what we consider reasonable usage, and how we support members whose needs are higher than average.

Personal Care Memberships

For most individual members:

• Typical usage is up to 3–4 GP consultations within any rolling 3-month period
• This level of access comfortably supports:
  • Acute illness
  • Exacerbations of long-term conditions
  • Periods of increased clinical need
• Consultations may be virtual or in-person, depending on what is clinically appropriate

This reflects real-world GP usage patterns while ensuring appointments remain available when needed.

Family Care Memberships

For Family Care, fair use is assessed across the household, rather than per individual.

• Most families typically require around 5–8 GP consultations in total over a rolling 3-month period
• This includes periods of higher demand, such as winter illnesses
• Usage is considered collectively to allow flexibility where one family member temporarily needs more care

If a family’s needs exceed this over time, we work together to agree the most appropriate ongoing arrangement.

We understand that health needs are not always predictable. If you require more frequent GP input over a short period, we will always:

• Prioritise clinical safety
• Discuss the most appropriate way to support you
• Ensure continuity of care, rather than fragmented or repetitive appointments

This may include closer follow-up, planned reviews, or alternative care pathways tailored to your needs.

To help us maintain excellent access for everyone, we ask members to:

• Book consultations thoughtfully, when clinically needed
• Attend appointments on time, or give reasonable notice if cancelling
• Use appointments for health-related concerns
• Provide accurate and honest information, enabling safe clinical decisions

These small actions help ensure timely care for all members.

• It is not a cap on care
• It is not a limit on support during illness
• It is not a barrier to accessing your GP when you genuinely need help

The policy exists to protect quality, safety, and access, not to restrict appropriate medical care.

We believe in open, respectful communication. If we notice patterns of use that fall outside typical expectations, we will:

• Discuss this with you openly
• Review your clinical needs
• Agree a plan that supports both your health and service sustainability

In all cases, decisions are made clinically, collaboratively, and with your best interests in mind.