Glasgow Private Clinic: A one-stop shop for health
Health Prem speaks with Dr Ali, General Practitioner at Glasgow Private Clinic to discuss the wide range of GP services on offer and how to secure a same-day appointment if required.
6 minute readWith 30 specialists onsite, a range of GP services, and onsite diagnostics, Glasgow Private Clinic has all of your health needs covered. Listed as one of the top private GP practices in Glasgow, we reached out to discuss all of the services offered to their patients.
Health Prem:
Hello, Dr Ali! Thanks so much for joining us today.
Dr Ali:
My pleasure.
How Glasgow Private Clinic began
Health Prem:
So, can you start by introducing yourself and telling us a bit about Glasgow Private Clinic?
Dr Ali:
Yes, of course. My name is Dr Naushad Ali. I worked as an NHS GP for 15 years, and what I was hearing from patients was that, as demand was increasing, they were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with what the NHS was able to offer. And this is even before the pandemic. A number of my patients were looking for private care even at that stage.
So in 2018, I decided to set up a private clinic, mainly to try and improve access for patients who were able to afford private healthcare. From 2018 to 2019, we opened a private clinic on Saturday mornings at my existing NHS premises. And then COVID happened which changed things quite significantly in terms of demand on the service which still hasn’t fully recovered.
Health Prem:
Can you explain this a bit more?
Dr Ali:
When the pandemic happened, things became challenging in the NHS, and our private clinic had to close at that point because we were not deemed to be an essential service. However, we then were able to reopen because we were offering COVID testing as one of our services.
Since 2020/2021 things have grown hugely, and we're now seeing more and more people looking to access healthcare privately, both in general practice, and secondary care services. In 2023, we were fortunate enough to move to our own premises on the south side of Glasgow. Now, we've got our own building with two floors, 18 clinical rooms, and a range of services.
What services does Glasgow Private Clinic offer?
Health Prem:
How did you decide which services to include?
Dr Ali:
We've tried to identify services that have the longest waiting lists on the NHS and to find alternative access routes for patients who wish to go privately. We're also trying to link in with private insurance. That's quite a long process and can take quite some time, but we're making progress on that front as well.
Health Prem:
So, you’ve seen the demand for private GPs increase in the UK in the past few years?
Dr Ali:
I think it's more than just private GPS. I think it's private healthcare. The struggle for patients at the moment is accessing, not only their GP, but all NHS services. GPs are gatekeepers for further services down the line and because of the delays in these patients being seen, it can create an increased workload for NHS GPs. Patients who should have seen a specialist keep going back to their GP because they're not going down that conveyor belt of care.
Health prem:
I see. It has a knock-on effect on all aspects of patient care. What services do you offer at Glasgow Private Clinic?
Dr Ali:
Our clinic has grown quite a bit in the last year. We now have 30 specialists, so in addition to GPs, we have a:
Gastroenterologist
Paediatrician
Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon
Cardiologist
Gynaecologist
And more. We're trying to expand beyond just offering GP services.
Health Prem:
That’s great! Do patients need a GP referral to see a specialist, or can they book an appointment directly?
Dr Ali:
No, patients can book an appointment with a specialist directly through our portal system. We’ve tried to make accessing healthcare easier for our patients. Many patients are already on a waiting list to be seen by a specialist, and rather than have to go through the struggle of booking an appointment with a GP or having to get a referral letter, we've made it very easy for them to access.
Health Prem:
I’m guessing another benefit of this is that it’s taking a huge amount of pressure off the NHS by allowing people who can afford it to pay and be seen quickly.
Dr Ali:
Exactly.
Number of GPs at Glasgow Private Clinic
Health Prem:
I just want to focus for a minute on GP services. How many GPs do you have at Glasgow Private Clinic?
Dr Ali:
At the moment, we have two GPs who split their time over the week. So we have a GP available six days a week at the practice.
Health Prem:
Do you have other professionals, like nurses, dietitians, physios, or anything like that?
Dr Ali:
Yes, we aim to provide holistic care. We currently have physios, podiatrists, a hearing department, and an eye department. We are also interviewing for a dietitian who will hopefully join the clinic at the end of this month.
Health Prem:
It’s great to have access to all those services under one roof.
Dr Ali:
One of the main things we provide is continuity. For example, I can see a patient, and if they need a scan or a blood test, they can have that the same day and get the results back quickly. We’re able to provide joined-up care which unfortunately is lacking in the NHS.
How to book an appointment at Glasgow Private Clinic
Health Prem:
Going back to GP services, what kind of appointments do you offer? Obviously, you do face-to-face consultations, what about online or telephone consultations?
Dr Ali:
We’ve found that patients aren't particularly keen on online appointments and around 90 to 95% of our appointments are face-to-face. Patients prefer the personal touch.
Health Prem:
You’ve said they're not popular, but do you offer telephone appointments if someone requests one?
Dr Ali:
Yes. Patients can book telephone consultations or face-to-face. We don't routinely offer online appointments.
Health Prem:
And how long are your appointments?
Dr Ali:
A standard GP appointment is 20 minutes, but obviously the patient dictates how long that consultation lasts. It may take a bit longer and that's fine. There's no additional charge. A standard NHS appointment here in Scotland is around 10 minutes, so we give patients at least twice as much time.
Booking an appointment: Prices & availability
Health Prem:
What is the cost of a standard GP appointment?
Dr Ali:
Our standard price for a GP appointment is £110.
Health Prem:
And what are your average waiting times? Can patients be seen on the same day?
Dr Ali:
If a patient phones on the day, they will be seen on that day. If they have a preference to be seen on a particular day, they can book an appointment for that day. Our diary is open for the full month ahead.
We encourage patients to book online through our online booking platform. This also provides us with information and helps in terms of knowing what the patient wants to discuss.
Health Prem:
What about evening and weekend appointments?
Dr Ali:
We are open on Saturday mornings from 9am until 1pm. This is very popular as, historically, we used to open on Saturday mornings. As of February 1st, we also do a Thursday evening clinic where we are open until 8pm.
Health Prem:
And do you offer home visits?
Dr Ali:
Yes. We provide home visits for patients who are housebound. For example, we have palliative care patients, for whom we offer a home visit service.
Why choose Glasgow Private Clinic?
Health Prem:
So, my final question. Why should patients choose Glasgow Private Clinic?
Dr Ali:
Firstly, we have experienced clinicians who have spent many years in the NHS and have years of knowledge. We offer a huge range of services and are accessible with onsite parking and a wide range of opening times.
We are very keen on health promotion and want to try and give patients the best in terms of their health. We recognise the importance of good health care and people's health and well-being. I also think we're a welcoming practice with lovely premises on the south side of Glasgow. If you need any investigations, we're able to carry them out and get the results back very quickly.
Health Prem:
Is there anything else you’d like to add before we go?
Dr Ali:
One of the biggest ethos of Glasgow Private Clinic is our focus on health promotion. One of my criticisms of the way the NHS operates is that usually to see a GP, you have to be sick, when there should be more time spent keeping people well. I've heard it described as a firefighting service.
Patients often complain that they want to do whatever they can to remain well, but having those conversations with their GP is very difficult. GP practices are so pressured that it’s difficult to find the time for conversations about health, diet and wellbeing.
At Glasgow Medical Clinic, we now have quite a few well-being services such as weight management, high blood pressure management, and cancer screening. We also do vitamin drips for people with nutritional issues.
Health Prem:
Dr Ali, thanks so much for chatting with us today about what you can offer patients at Glasgow Private Clinic.
Glasgow Private Clinic is located at 224-226 Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, G77 6DR.
For more information or to book an appointment, call 0141 384 2485, email info@glasgowprivateclinic.co.uk or fill out the Online Contact Form.
