Need a good PRIVATE GP

semtal

Talking to myself. Time to move on.

peachyprice

I think you're looking for a ideal that doesn't exist, there isn't enough demand for purely private GP's, except perhaps in London's Harley Street.

cherylsurrey

Where I live in Surrey there are lots of private GP's, just googling private GP and nearby towns to me like Guildford brings lots of them up. Both me and my husband have found them a godsend when we couldn't get an NHS appointment easily.


What you could do is look up the websites of all the private hospitals in your area, as they usually have a private GP service there, a few of my local ones do such as the Nuffield.


It would be a good idea to have a directory of them country wide though as more and more people are using them.

paddyrg

Try Babylon app on your phone - private consultations but not tied to geography?

peachyprice

cherylsurrey wrote: »

Where I live in Surrey there are lots of private GP's, just googling private GP and nearby towns to me like Guildford brings lots of them up. Both me and my husband have found them a godsend when we couldn't get an NHS appointment easily.


What you could do is look up the websites of all the private hospitals in your area, as they usually have a private GP service there, a few of my local ones do such as the Nuffield.


It would be a good idea to have a directory of them country wide though as more and more people are using them.

Yes, there are plenty here too in the private hospitals, but they're all doctors who also works for the NHS, as are the majority of doctors/surgeons/consultants who practice at private hospitals. This isn't good enough for the OP, she wants a GP that only does private work, of which there are very few.

Armchair23

I'm probably being a bit dim but I can't really get to grips why you are so specific about the GP not working in the NHS as well. Not to say you don't have good reasons, just unclear.

As a private patient you dictate what happens to a far greater extent.
The training will have been through the NHS regardless, unless trained overseas.

Personally I'd start with whether any GP near you gets an outstanding report on the NHS choices site or ask anyone you may have got to know locally. Then see if they offer private appointments, this might not be ideal but you can try it once and see if it provides the service you're seeking.

FBaby

You will not find a private GP in your town, all private GP practices are within NHS establishments. You also will not find this service within the private hospitals.

Maybe I've just been unlucky then and it's down to the doctor you end up with. It must be nice to find the ones that go the extra mile for you.

What is it you are looking for? A good GP is rarely one who will tell you all you want to hear, but one with excellent medical skills that can tell you what is best for you, even if you don't agree. I would trust a NHS GP way before a private one.

indiepanda

FBaby wrote: »

What is it you are looking for? A good GP is rarely one who will tell you all you want to hear, but one with excellent medical skills that can tell you what is best for you, even if you don't agree. I would trust a NHS GP way before a private one.

I think that's something of an unfair statement. My private GP has been great, and I've seen a few different ones at our practice at work. Between using a private GP and having private medical insurance I know I've got better treatment than I would have done in the NHS.

That's not to say I think there's anything wrong with the quality of care or medical skills in the NHS, it's just that there simply isn't enough money to pay for everything so it gets rationed. I had physio for dodgy knees going private which I really needed as they were sore enough I couldn't get down stairs or in and out of a chair without pain, but I know friends with worse injuries that couldn't get anything from the NHS. Similarly I had CBT to help me manage stress better at work, but I know my mother who has had very severe mental health issues over decades rarely got offered anything more than pills by the NHS.

Even getting an appointment with my NHS GP is a challenge. At my practice you pretty much have to get triaged over the phone before they'll allow you an on the day appointment, and I have never worked out when they'll actually allow you to book an advance appointment for something more mundane like getting a supply of hay fever medication - and before you accuse me of wasting resources by getting it on prescription, no over the counter stuff works on my hay fever, and for the last few years I've had to buy on private prescription.

I have to admit, I wouldn't care if my private GP also worked in the NHS though - thought most private medics split their time between both. It's the timing and funding constraints of the NHS that put me off, the staff are generally fantastic.

indiepanda

PS I should also say I can't see much point in using a private GP but not having private medical insurance to get referred onto for the expert treatment - I've seen a physio, a consultant re my knees, had MRI scans and see a psychologist for CBT - oh and a dermatologist when I had alopecia, not that it was much help.

FBaby

I think the advantage of a private GP is indeed to be able to get a quicker appointment, although not all practices are bad. I never had issues with getting an appointment when I wanted it, my previous practice even allowed me to book with my GP or another online, so could pick the date and time.

In terms of access to therapy, your NHS GP can always refer you to private care if you don't feel you are getting what you want from the NHS, you don't need a private GP for that, many you can ever self-refer to (ie, CBT)

What I don't understand is the importance of finding an private GP that doesn't do any NHS work. What would be the benefit to the patient? I can't only think of negatives!