From NHS to Private: What’s behind the mass move to private GPs in the UK?
What’s causing the increase in people paying to see a private GP? And how does the process of visiting a private GP compare to seeing a GP through the NHS?
5 minute readFor decades, GP practice has been the cornerstone of healthcare in the UK, providing a solid foundation of primary care in the NHS.
For most people, their GP is the first port of call when accessing healthcare, but could the cosy image of the family doctor, providing care for generations, soon be a thing of the past?
With many GP practices in crisis due to an ever-increasing workload, staff shortages, chronic underfunding, and poor job satisfaction, there has recently been a sharp increase in people paying privately to see a GP.
Private hospital group Spire Healthcare, which also provides private GP services, reported a 41% increase in patients booking private GP appointments compared to last year.
In this article, we’ll look at the crisis within NHS general practice, the reasons more people are choosing to pay to see a GP, and what this could mean for the future of NHS GPs in the UK.
What is general practice?
General practice is a branch of medicine that provides primary outpatient care to communities. General practitioners (GPs) are doctors trained to treat common short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) illnesses, perform certain medical procedures, and refer people to specialists when necessary. A GP is a doctor who has completed medical school and undergone specialist training to become a GP.
What is the state of general practice in 2023?
Like much of the NHS, GPs in the UK are under pressure like never before. GPs are facing an increasing workload, lack of government funding, time constraints and reduced job satisfaction. Add to this the record numbers of GPs leaving the NHS and it’s not hard to see why general practice is at crisis point.
According to statistics published by the Royal College of General Practitioners:
The number of patients per GP has increased by 7.3% since December 2019
The number of fully qualified full-time GPs is 3.1% less than December 2019
There are 6.7% fewer GP practices than in December 2019
GPs in deprived parts of England receive an average of 7% less funding than those in wealthy areas
Areas with the highest levels of income deprivation have an average of 300 more patients per GP than areas with the lowest levels of deprivation
68% of GPs say appointment times are not long enough to properly assess and treat patients
64% of GPs say appointment times are not long enough to build the patient relationships needed to provide quality care
65% of GPs say patient safety is being compromised because appointments are too short
Government spending on primary care has fallen in recent years and currently accounts for just 8% of the NHS budget
What’s causing the increase in people paying to see a private GP?
With long waiting times, difficulty accessing appointments, and appointments limited to just ten minutes, many people are resorting to paying to see a private GP.
A private GP can offer many benefits, including appointments at short notice, longer appointments, greater flexibility in the time and location of the appointment and the choice to see the same GP at each appointment.
How much does it cost to see a GP privately?
The cost of seeing a private GP varies according to several factors, including:
The location of the GP practice
The length of the appointment
The experience and qualifications of the GP
On average, the cost of a private GP appointment in the UK is between £50 and £150. There may be additional charges if you need to have tests, treatments, or a referral to a specialist.
Does health insurance cover the cost of seeing a private GP?
Some health insurance policies include unlimited or discounted GP consultations, as well as covering tests, treatments, and hospital care. For those that don’t offer GP consultations as standard, you may be able to add it as an additional service for an increased premium.
Some health insurance providers offering GP appointments include:
AXA PPP - offers same-day appointments, evening, and weekend appointments both in-person or over the phone
Freedom Health - offers a 24/7 virtual GP consultation service
The Exeter - includes up to four remote GP consultations per year and up to two-second opinion services
Vitality - all their healthcare plans include video consultations and virtual GP appointments
For our full review of private healthcare insurance providers to consider in 2024, click here.
Are there any differences between a private GP and an NHS GP?
A private GP has the same qualifications and can diagnose, prescribe, and carry out the same procedures as an NHS GP. Many GPs combine private practice with working for the NHS.
In the UK, doctors must complete the same medical training and training to qualify as a GP before practicing privately. Private practices are also governed by the same regulatory bodies as the NHS.
Some differences between a private GP appointment and an appointment with an NHS GP include:
Length of the appointment - consultations with a private GP usually last longer than the ten minutes allocated to an NHS GP.
Access to medical records - a private GP may not have access to your medical records, so may need to take a full medical history at the beginning of your appointment.
Continuity of care - with a private GP, you are more likely to see the same GP on each visit.
Tasks conducted - most private GPs will carry out tasks such as taking blood, testing urine, and performing ECGs themselves, whereas in the NHS these tasks are usually carried out by a nurse, and sometimes require a separate appointment.
Can I still get NHS treatment if I pay to see a private GP?
Seeing a private GP or using private healthcare does not affect your right to treatment on the NHS. You can have a private GP consultation and then continue treatment on the NHS, and switch from NHS to private treatment at any time.
Is the rise in the number of patients seeing private GPs reducing pressure on the NHS?
Private healthcare has long been regarded as the enemy of the NHS, cashing in on the struggling health service and luring patients with shiny brochures and the promise of fast, convenient, individualised care.
The fear that the NHS will be privatised or replaced by private healthcare is a common argument, but appears unfounded. By providing healthcare to those that can afford it, the private sector is relieving stress on the NHS, which in turn should reduce pressure on staff, cut waiting times, and improve patient care.
The NHS and private sectors often work together, and many NHS trusts now offer private healthcare in an NHS setting. Rather than one or the other, perhaps the best way forward for healthcare in the UK is to have both NHS and private options available that complement and support each other.
Is paying to see a private GP likely to become the norm in the UK?
With the number of patients seeking private GPs in the UK soaring, paying to see a GP could soon become commonplace in the UK. Many people opting to go private have busy schedules and enjoy the flexibility, convenience, and speed of a private GP appointment.
However, NHS GPs remain of enormous value in their communities, providing lifelong primary care, health education, and health prevention to people from all walks of life. The increase in private GP appointments could be a blessing for many GP practices, freeing them up to cut waiting times, improving services, and offering better quality care to those unwilling or unable to pay for private care.
