Private GP. Is it worth it? Fed up of crap disjointed healthcare

[Branleuse]

I wonder if anyone has a private GP and what is the difference?

I know lots of people feel the same about NHS GPs at the moment, but im feeling so frustrated and regularly upset about lack of continuity of care. Being referred to one specialist who doesnt know anything about another issue im also dealing with and how they might interact etc.
Im not happy with the various medications im on and i feel rubbish most of the time. I cant get proper appointments with the doctor for love nor money and in the past when i have, they dont seem to have the answers and although ive been referred further, i never seem to move up the waiting list. I cant really afford private healthcare, but I dont know if i can really afford to keep living this way either.
Has anyone else got a private GP? Is it expensive and is it worth it?

Following because I’ve been thinking the same. I really want a proper chat with a doctor about my issues not a 2 second phone appointment where I feel like a bother.

I feel rubbish about the idea of giving up on the NHS and of course its probably what they want us to do

I think it depends what you get

I paid for a private GP near me at work - it's a clinic which has a lot of other services and they have a private GP section. I have been 3 times in about 8 years and can opt to see the same one which I like as you get continuity of care.

There are also private GP places where you won't get to see the same one but just get a doctor's appointment quicker and can have a longer appointment. Tbh I don't find those much different to an NHS GP appointment except the GP isn't rushed off their feet and you don't feel like it's a race to get you out of the door!

I don’t think private GP’s are going to provide the continuity of care that you think they are. Overall responsibility for your care still falls to your own NHS GP.

People usually see private GP’s for a one off consultation about a specific problem, with a fixed cost to it. E.g. tonsillitis or a rash. Usually it’s time limited, you’ll be examined and get a prescription and then a letter is sent back to your own GP. Private GP’s aren’t case holding.

Private GP’s are the very same ones working in NHS practices. There aren’t GP’s sat in private buildings 24/7 essentially running a normal GP practice but for cash. It runs more like an urgent care centre situation.

Most private providers insist that you have an NHS GP as a condition of providing care. They know that they cannot take overall responsibility for continuity of care, so they need someone to pass it all back to when the episode of care with the private provider has finished.

I don't think having a private GP but not private healthcare will necessarily make things feel less disjointed. It depends on what you're seeking treatment for, as a GP will often refer you on anyway, and then you're back in the NHS system. One thing to bear in mind is if you're seeing a private GP you'll only get private prescriptions and you have to pay for those. This can be very expensive (although sometimes it can also be cheaper).

It's very difficult isn't it.

I moved house recently and was struggling to get registered with an NHS GP practice. While the health board was basically forcing me onto a surgery I needed to see a doctor, so I sucked it up and went private.

It's expensive. I paid £160 for a 15 minute appointment, and this was one of the cheaper ones -- the other well-regarded private GP in my city charges £250 per appointment.

The other thing to bear in mind with a private GP is that anything you are prescribed you have to pay the full price for. My medication was a bog-standard antibiotic so wasn't expensive, but some medicines are extremely pricey.

Also, in my experience it's even more disjointed than the NHS GP system. The private GP I saw took no history, and couldn't see my NHS history (obviously, cos he wasn't NHS). The result of my visit won't log on my NHS health record either, because it was done privately. So the system isn't joined up.

I went in convinced that the private GP was the way to go, and now I'm unsure. It was quick I was able to see someone the same day privately. But it was also very expensive and I think if I had more complicated needs I'd be concerned about medical continuity. But the NHS provision here isn't great either the usual issues; can't get through on the phone, they've shut down the online booking, you get seven minutes if you're lucky, etc etc.

So I'm torn, but on balance sticking with NHS for the time being.

I get private GP appointments (virtually) with my healthcare cover I get through work.
There’s no additional continuity of care, as I don’t have a specific GP, I can just access an appointment very quickly. I thinks it’s worth having, but only in addition to the private healthcare. For example, I was referred and had physio very quickly for an issue that was causing me a lot of pain, but had I not had the physio covered under the healthcare, I don’t think a private GP could have done anymore than an NHS one, I’d have still had to wait for NHS physio.

The clinic I go to is £85 for 15 mins and £150 for 30 mins but is in central London. I found the continuity of the care the best thing about it tbh.

I think the best use of money though is to keep the NHS GP and pay for a specialist appointment for whatever it is that you may want/need a referral for.

E.g a friend of mine was convinced she had MS. GP wasn't doing anything so she asked for who the specialist would be if the GP referred her, paid to go and see him and has been diagnosed with a long term immune disorder. He wrote to her GP so the GP can prescribe the treatment and now she goes back into the NHS system for the routine blood tests she needs from here onwards. She said she just regrets not doing it sooner!

We get access to virtual GPs through our health insurance- using the app Babylon. I think you can pay privately for an appointment for £49. I really like it so far.

Our local private hospital (it's a 'One') has private GPs for £90.

I feel your pain, I absolutely find it impossible to talk to, let alone see, our NHS GP at the moment.

There are different models of private GP - I've used both. One is more like a family GP - you see the same one, get half hour appointments and excellent continuity of care. I've also used services where you get a same day/next day private appointment, normally when I need a prescription for something which I've had before. The former is obviously more expensive but it's been great for me when I've needed it. The latter is useful.

I haven't paid to see a GP but I've paid a few times to see a specialist and it's the best money I've ever spend.

On a side note the medication the specialist has prescribed - I've always taken to the GP and asked them to prescribe on the NHS.

It sounds like issues include long waiting times to see specialist NHS doctors, and those doctors not having access to (or not having read) your full medical info?

A private GP probably won’t help with those issues.

NHS GPs and pharmacists sometimes offer ‘medicines review’ to discuss medications.

depends, for sick notes and 'simple' issues private gp are great.
but as soon as it gets complicated private gets very expensive. any test costs. a full blood count cost around 200 just for the lan work. gp and nurse cost are on top of that.

are your medications initiated by consultants or by the gp?

I love my private GP.

DC get back from school trip at 5pm on a Friday covered in a rash straight down there with no appointment and someone saw them. Same when DC jumped off the coffee table and split their chin open.

I’ve been a few times over niggly things. GP suspects peri menopause and assures me she will get me feeling good again and to come in regularly.

DC asthmatic and hospitalised on several occasions as a baby. GP gave me her personal number to call any time.

I’ve been going there 10+ years and know 3 of the GPS well. I will always wait to see one of them if possible.

I can usually get an appointment the same day but never wait longer than 48 hours.

Pricey at £80 per visit.

I’ve picked up that you’re not happy with your medication.

Would it be worth booking an appointment with a pharmacist? I managed to get hold of a consultant pharmacist when my son was in hospital and that was very useful (and fascinating!) She was able to tweak things and the doctors changed his prescriptions.

Thanks for the advice. I actually love my GP but I just cant get to see her. One of the things I love about her is that she listens and takes me seriously and refers me on if she cant help, but im just struggling with waiting lists and the fact that she doesnt actually know about the issues im dealing with properly and how the medications interact with each other. I think a pharmacist would know whether they were safe or not, but wouldnt be what I need. I really need holistic care. I feel a bit of a mess really and wonder if I just threw money at it all I could get decent help, but reading this I think maybe its just not out there, or it would be out of my budget by a lot anyway

So you think you need better primary care, from a GP? Not specialists.