Has anybody used a private GP

[Tomselleckhaskindeyes]

I have a poorly child who has very bad Asthma and has two longish stays in hospital with pneumonia. She has coronavirus a few weeks ago and has been generally unwell. She was sent home yesterday and was sick at school.
I just can't get through to the GP surgery, won't let me do an e consult due to her symptoms. We end up ringing 111 to go to a walk in clinic so no consistency of care. Please tell me your experiences as i'm at my wits end with the system!!

Yes, I have used a private GP many times. V similar experience to visiting your NHS GP, except you won't be rushed and the receptionist will probably be quite friendly.

I'd check first how helpful they'll be in the case of an ongoing condition.

Our local one is very good and you can always get a same day appointment but they won't touch anything that is longterm.

My experience of Babylon private GPs is that they'll just refer you to A&E as there is nothing they can do remotely.

Private face to face GPs was a lot more successful. However, I found you either end up stuck paying for private treatment going forward or you have a HUGE battle with your NHS GP getting them to follow the guidance/treatment plan. Eventually we just ended up having to pay for our own private prescriptions, consultants, and tests for DD because the NHS GP wouldn't take onboard the treatment plan provided by the private GP.

Even once a private consultant who was a specialist in the field put together the final prescriptions we had issues. Our GP was having none of it and wanted to follow the 'practise/trust procedure'. I got the impression the private doctors were used to this as their letters to the NHS GP always had a list of treatments that were not suitable alternatives... and the NHS always gave you something off of that list 😂

Initially I thought it was down to cost. But when we paid for our prescription privately it became apparent that the drugs they were refusing to prescribe were actually cheaper than the alternatives they kept trying to give us.

I used the Livi App during Lockdown 1 which was good - at least I could see the GP I was talking to! It was free & she did liaise with my GP surgery as well which helped.

I have friends that work in Harley Street that will use the private GPs in that area - they can easily see them before/after work & during lunch hours. They were available for face-to-face consults during all the lockdowns (as were the majority of dentists whose businesses have rocketed over the past 18 months...).

Some private GPs then might refer them privately on for investigations or they request a referral to the NHS when they send the letter/report to the patient's NHS GPs.

I think some of my friends have health insurance & some just pay up as it's the only way they can see someone at a time & place that is convenient for them & their work schedules.

Outside of London, I don't know. I guess you can research them online & patients will give reviews. The private GP should always send a letter to your NHS GP informing them of any visit.

Worth bearing in mind that prescriptions will usually be private but if it is recommended that it is a repeat, when you can talk to your NHS GP, you can ask for the prescription to go NHS.
(I've used private psychiatrists & after the first couple of private prescriptions, my NHS GP just put them on my repeat prescriptions).

I find private GPs handy for minor stuff, like extending a sick note when you can’t get hold of NHS GP (nothing like giving your boss a sick note back-dated 3 weeks with the wrong diagnosis on it because the GP was too rushed to read the consultant’s letter properly 😳) or a short course of antibiotics for a minor infection (eg tonsillitis or a UTI) or when you need a referral under private healthcare.

Yes we all see a private GP for everything, including the kids. Our NHS GP is perfectly nice but they are just too difficult to get actually get hold of.