NHS GPs with Private Clinic

This would really bother me too.
I don’t think it’s wrong for GPs to do private work, but when NHS access becomes almost impossible at the same time, it feels like patients are being quietly pushed aside. Especially when you’re stuck with phone appointments or trainees and just need someone experienced to actually look at the bigger picture.
A lot of people I know have ended up looking elsewhere not because they want private care, but because they just need one proper conversation with someone who listens and explains what’s going on.

You are essentially relating what these GPs do in their personal life to NHS work. Their private work is nothing to do with NHS work.
stupid question.

Consultants often have private practices as well. Yrs ago my DF needed to see a consultant regarding a knee injury. He was unable to work and could not afford to be off for the waiting time. His DM gave him the money to see a private constant, who saw him and then told him he'd be the one doing his surgery in the NHS! Basically it was queue jumping cos he could pay!

I think there's lack of understanding about how GPs work.

Jesus the NHS manager bashing knows no bounds.

GP makes money doing something other than providing services to the NHS… must be the fault of the 2% of NHS staff that are managers 🤣

I think you have overlooked the fact that GP's are self employed and provide NHS services on a commissioned basis.

Whilst I have little time for the too frequent arrogance and ineptitude, notwithstanding the fact that interactions with the practice are usually poor largely because GP's pay their reception/admin staff minimum wage, their salaries have not kept pace with those of other professionals. For me to suppprt an increase, however, I'd want to see better standards.

The average salary declared at my old GP practice was £79k. It's a huge practice. Some of the things their Partners do:

Private dermatology clinic
2 Partners do sessions as private GPs at our local private hospitals
2 Partners are directors of a private facility from which the NHS commissions services.
1 Partner is the Dr to the local public school.

None of the GPs work full time and the practice hoovers up every little practice where the GPs retire. The service is dreadful.

The Partners are self employed and can do what they like. The other GPs are salaried and employed by the practice not the NHS and again none work full-time.

What’s the issue??

The NHS is managed by crazy ‘computer said no’ managers!

it’s shocking

but lack of GPs is not the problem. There are loads of unemployed GPs. It's lack of funding to hire them that's the issue. If they could afford to have more GPs, they are available. GPs doing private work is not what is leading to lack of appointments.

Pretty much every GP that you’ve seen as an NHS patient, is a salaried employee at the private business you consider to be your “NHS GP Surgery”. The others will be partners in the business. It’s a vastly overlooked fact that practices are businesses that “profit” off the NHS, just like any other private business that holds an NHS contract. Sometimes GPs are direct NHS employees but it’s extremely rare. The “profit” in running a GP practice on an NHS contract is also very minimal.

So, completely reasonable that they provide whatever other services they want to.

where would the funding for that come from?

There are risks with injecting botox & fillers to be fair!

If you had the choice to do a few days work that were less stressful, where people didn’t constantly shout at you and belittle you, you weren’t making hundreds of high risk decisions in suboptimal conditions, had time to pee, didn’t have to do admin going well into the night and could make more money… wouldn’t you?

Need to make being a GP more sustainable and attractive I’d say.

Exactly this. Definitely a growing thing

they're not on full time jobs anyway. As pp says, they can do what they like with their free time.

Not made any easier by government rules about not hiring more GPs but I wonder if the change to PA stuff might free up funding.

No, that's not even close to what I said! GPs (and other doctors) are increasingly choosing not to work full time in the NHS so that they have time to do private work, (which is of course their prerogative). But if GPs spent all of their working hours in the NHS instead of splitting their working hours between NHS and private, there would be more GP availability therefore more appointments. It's simple maths.

So, you think that GPs should only be allowed to do NHS work during their days off?

If they weren't doing this lower intensity more profitable private work, they might choose not do any extra work. It's not a case that they are not doing their NHS work, they are doing this in addition to their NHS work.

For everyone, take a look at the sum that the GP gets per patient per year.

People pay more than that to insure their pets, and pet insurance isn't unlimited visits, no excess to pay.

Yes, many people don't visit their GP - I haven't been to mine for years, but there are people who have contact with their GP dozens of times per year: the population is getting older and sicker, more complex healthcare issues, more drugs that need monitoring.

Of course it is! GPs are choosing to do private work instead of NHS work which means we have less GPs working therefore less appointments. That's not a negative against GPs, they should be allowed to work as many or as few hours as they want, but to say it doesn't impact appointments is ridiculous.

Yes, it is the same with NHS dentists too.

One of my friends is a GP who does botox and fillers. It's so profitable that she only does 1 day a week as a GP now.

I'm not sure how GP services work.

Chat GPT says:
Global Sum payment per weighted patient is £121.79,

GP practices in the UK have contractual and ethical obligations to their patients, ensuring access to primary care services. Here’s a breakdown of their key responsibilities:
Core Obligations

• Access to Care: Practices must provide an appropriate response when patients contact them—whether in person, by phone, or online.
• Appointments: They must offer timely consultations, either in-person, via telephone, or video, based on clinical urgency.
• Emergency Treatment: GPs have a duty to provide immediately necessary treatment free of charge for up to 14 days, even for unregistered patients.
• Patient Registration: Anyone can register with a GP, regardless of nationality or residential status. Practices cannot refuse registration based on race, gender, social class, or medical condition.
• Confidentiality & Dignity: GPs must respect patient privacy, protect personal data, and treat individuals with dignity.

• Care Navigation: Practices may direct patients to appropriate services if an alternative provider is better suited to their needs.
• Health Inequality Support: They must ensure vulnerable groups—such as homeless individuals—can access care without barriers.
• Communication & Partnership: GPs should listen to patients, involve them in decisions, and support informed choices about their health.

I'd ring up and speak to the practice manager next time you can't get an appointment.
I did many years ago (they instantly offered me an appointment) and went a few times to the patient consultation group they used to have.

Locally we have a NHS GP surgery who has opened a private GP surgery right next door! The same GPs. It does stipulate they will not take patients that are registered with the GP practice next door privately, but I did think that was a bit cheeky, but it is totally within the rules.

Are they definitely doing mostly Botox and fillers? I’d be surprised if many GPs are highly qualified in that area. Obviously almost anyone can do them but if I was paying for a doctor I’d go to a specialist.

If I could afford and needed WLI then I would pay and you could certainly make an argument that this will likely save the nhs money and will be better supervised than buying online.

If they are also offering general medical care the once again they are supporting the nhs.

GPs are vastly overworking during their paid shifts. Good luck to them for taking the easier option as they reach the senior level.

Can you honestly say you wouldn’t?