With NHS GP services in crisis, many people in the UK are choosing to pay privately to see a GP. But what is a private GP? And what services can they provide?

6 minute read

In recent years, the NHS has been under increasing pressure due to factors such as an ageing population, the pandemic, staff shortages and chronic underfunding.

As the gatekeepers of healthcare, and the first port of call for many patients, GPs have been hit particularly hard. Many are facing burnout and are leaving the NHS in record numbers.

Between August 2022 and August 2023, the NHS lost the equivalent of 269 fully qualified full-time GPs, and the equivalent of 2,118 full-time, fully qualified GPs have left the NHS since 2015.

As GP numbers decline, the average number of patients each full-time equivalent GP is responsible for, is increasing. Now this number stands at 2,301, an increase of 363 patients per GP (or 19%) since 2015.

With difficulty accessing appointments, increased waiting times, time constraints on appointments, and lack of continuity of care, many people are choosing to pay to see a private GP. Though expensive, private GP appointments may provide a cost-effective alternative to taking time off work, and greater speed and flexibility for those with busy lives.

A private GP offers many benefits, including:

• Appointments at short notice

• Greater flexibility of appointment times such as evenings and weekends

• Longer appointments

• The option to see the same GP at every appointment

What is a private GP?

A private GP is a GP (general practitioner) that is not funded by the government and instead receives payment either directly from their patient or via their patient’s health insurance.

Private GPs and NHS GPs have exactly the same training and qualifications, and many GPs choose to work both privately and for the NHS.

Where do private GPs work?

A private GP may work:

• In a private practice - there are currently only a few hundred private GP practices in the UK with full-time and part-time (locum) GPs offering private appointments.

• In a private hospital - many private GPs rent a consultation room in a private hospital setting. This has the added benefit of access to hospital facilities such as the hospital laboratory, scanning and diagnostic equipment, and secondary care services.

• From their homes - A private GP may choose to set up a consulting room at their home.

What services do private GPs provide?

A private GP provides very similar services to an NHS GP, including:

• Diagnosing and treating a wide range of acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) health conditions

• Performing physical examinations

• Providing health advice to patients

• Prescribing medications

• Recommending treatments

• Performing minor surgery

• Referring patients to specialists if needed

A private GP may do certain tasks like taking blood, or urine tests themselves, whereas an NHS practice may have nursing staff to do this, possibly at a separate appointment.

Why are more GPs choosing to practice privately?

Many GPs enjoy the benefits of practising privately, such as more time spent with patients, greater job satisfaction, not having to meet government targets, and not being subject to NHS cost cutting or underfunding.

How many private GPs are there in the UK?

There are currently an estimated 2,000-3,000 GPs practicing privately in the UK. This makes up about 3-4% of all GPs and includes GPs working privately part time.

Are there private GP practices all over the UK?

There are currently only a few hundred private GP practices in the UK, the bulk of which are located in London’s wealthier areas. There are a few private practices in other major cities, like Manchester and Birmingham.

Most private GPs in the UK either work for a private practice on a part-time locum basis, or in a hospital setting.

Do you need health insurance to see a private GP?

Most private GPs have a fixed price for appointments and any follow-up treatments and take payment directly from the patient. Some health insurance providers cover GP appointments. However, these may be online or by telephone.

Before taking out healthcare insurance, check what is included in your cover and make sure you choose the policy that best suits you. Read our complete health insurance guide for 2024.

How does health insurance work when seeing a private GP?

Insurance providers may vary in the way they work. Although, in general, you pay a monthly or yearly premium and then make a claim for any private healthcare you receive. Some policies may require you to pay an excess, or deductible, which is a set amount you have to pay yourself when making a claim.

Could GPs start charging for appointments like dentists do?

The issue of whether GPs should start charging for appointments has long been discussed as a possible method of funding GP services and reducing the number of unnecessary appointments and no-shows.

In May 2023, elected GP representatives passed a motion calling for the introduction of private charges at the annual conference of UK Local Medical Committees (LMCs).

The motion stated that, “The conference notes that unlike dentists and pharmacists, GPs cannot currently offer many private services to their NHS patients, and believes that:

(i) GP surgeries should at their discretion be allowed to offer their NHS patients paid-for services if these services are not routinely offered by the NHS.

(ii) GP surgeries should at their discretion be allowed to offer their NHS patients paid-for services if these services are routinely offered by the NHS but are not accessible in a time frame that the patient deems reasonable.

(iii) GPs can be trusted to manage potential conflicts of interests arising from offering paid for services to their NHS patients. (iv) the BMA should state that the wellbeing of its members is a higher priority than the delivery of NHS services.”

The motion was later defeated amid concerns that patients paying to jump the queue could lead to worsening health inequality and create a two-tier system. As has happened with NHS dentists, GPs could prioritise private patients, leaving many NHS patients unable to access appointments.   

So, does going private solve the problem?

With the NHS struggling to meet demand, more people than ever are seeking private medical care, including GP services. In addition, with increasing workloads, poor job satisfaction and lack of funding, more GPs than ever are choosing to practise privately.

While paying privately for a GP appointment may help to ease the burden on NHS GPs, it doesn’t solve the problem. As the NHS reaches breaking point, a long-term solution to tackle GP waiting times, staff shortages, recruitment and retention has never been more important. In the meantime, the private sector, including GPs, looks set to grow in the coming years.