There is no way that the second opinions won't be referrals to specialists, sqad, but in the new world, the services of those working in the hospitals will be commissioned directly by the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), not the PCTs - the PCTs go in six months' time, all very much change from 1 April. If so many referrals for say hips, or specialist diabetes treatment have been commissioned by the local CCG in response to their local patient needs, then the referral can still happen. At present if a GP refers to hospital, the hospital has to do it, whether it can afford it or not, which has partly led to the current hospital overspends.
Neti - no, it shouldn't. GPs get paid for activity (by the NHS) but the fee to the private consultant is for his time and expertise, it doesn't go back down the chain.