A private GP appointment gives you time with a doctor when you need it, not when the next slot happens to come up. It is the same kind of care you would expect from a family doctor: someone who listens, examines you and explains what happens next. Same-day appointments are available.
What a GP can help with
- A new symptom that is worrying you, or one that has not settled
- A long-term condition or a medicine that needs reviewing
- A second opinion on a diagnosis or a treatment you have been offered
- Results or letters from elsewhere that you would like explained
- Low mood, anxiety, poor sleep and the other things people put off mentioning
What happens at the appointment
The doctor asks about the problem, your medical history and your medicines, and examines you where that helps. You then get a plain explanation of what they think is going on and what your options are. If something more is needed, it can usually be arranged from the same appointment: blood tests, an ultrasound scan, a private prescription or a referral to a consultant.
Good to know
You do not have to leave your NHS GP to see a private one: you can use both. You can ask for a written summary of the appointment to share with your NHS practice, which keeps your records in one place. The consultation fee covers the doctor's time; tests, prescriptions and referrals are charged separately, so ask what each will cost before it is ordered.
A GP appointment is not the place for an emergency. Call 999 for chest pain, signs of a stroke, severe difficulty breathing or heavy bleeding, and use NHS 111 when you are not sure how urgent something is.
Common questions
Do I have to leave my NHS practice? No. A private appointment sits alongside your NHS registration and changes nothing about it.
Can I bring someone with me? Yes, and you can ask for a chaperone for any examination.
What should I bring? A list of your medicines, any recent test results or hospital letters, and a note of when the problem started. The more the doctor knows at the start, the more of the appointment is spent on you.
Can the doctor sign a form or a certificate for me? Often, yes. See medical certificates for what is involved.
