Private healthcare/GP consultation

[JMN2]

Does a service exist in England where instead of using NHS GP appointment one goes to a private GP and pays per visit, instead of having a private health insurance type of arrangement, say with BUPA etc, where one pays monthly for the priviledge of perhaps not needing a doctor?

Only major problem I ever had I went straight to the top private consultant and paid IIRC £200 for the initial consultation and then thousands for the surgical operation itself.

Do multimillionaires always have monthly paid insurance or do they roll in with their wallet and ask to see the GP?

[redsturgeon]

Does a service exist in England where instead of using NHS GP appointment one goes to a private GP and pays per visit, instead of having a private health insurance type of arrangement, say with BUPA etc, where one pays monthly for the priviledge of perhaps not needing a doctor?

Only major problem I ever had I went straight to the top private consultant and paid IIRC £200 for the initial consultation and then thousands for the surgical operation itself.

Do multimillionaires always have monthly paid insurance or do they roll in with their wallet and ask to see the GP?

Yes is the simple answer, many private GPs exist, we use them when the NHS is less convenient.

We are not multi millionaires but still are quite happy to pay for things privately rather than have health insurance since we are a relatively healthy family.

John

[Lootman]

The situation you describe is the norm in the US where you can pick a consultant or specialist and book to see him or her directly. If you don't know what the problem is and therefore what type of specialty you need, then you go and see a doctor who deals with "internal medicine" which is the closest that the US has to a GP, outside of HMOs anyway.

Assuming it works the same way in the UK then there is a good and a bad part for paying yourself rather than via insurance. Insurance policies often have preferred or mandatory doctors that you can see. You can't just see anyone.

On the other hand you may pay more individually because insurance companies negotiate lower rates with doctors and hospitals, and individuals cannot.

Of course the real reason to have insurance is to cap your out-of-pocket costs if you get seriously ill or injured.

[Dod101]

When I worked in the City we had a private GP we could see at a moment's notice (well maybe 24 hours notice), paid him like I do today with a private dentist, got a prescription and sadly had to pay for that as well. However it worked and worked well with no delays and I felt under no pressure; not like the NHS GP where I always feel that I am taking up time that would be better used for a more deserving (or ill) patient. I would imagine that that sort of care is still available.

My current NHS GP, like many of them apparently, seems to resent the idea that I would want or can afford any form of private care, such as even physiotherapy, despite that fact that that is relieving the NHS of some work.

Dod

[JohnB]

If you got a private GP consultation, could they engage you in the NHS for treatment, or would you have to be private all the way afterwards? I suspect the latter, even though the former would still save the NHS money.

[redsturgeon]

If you got a private GP consultation, could they engage you in the NHS for treatment, or would you have to be private all the way afterwards? I suspect the latter, even though the former would still save the NHS money.

There needs to be a separation between private and NHS treatment but if the GP found something that required hospital treatment then I assume at the very least you could see an NHS GP and get referred that way into the NHS system.

John

[Sobraon]

Stamford Lincolnshire has had a private GP offering services for a few years ( search for The Broad St Practice Stamford - then select Private GP).

The web site confirms the private GP will liaise with the patient's NHS GP, the cost per hour is £120 ( specified under the Fees Tab). Last time I looked at my NHS GPs private rates, about 10 years ago, I recall these were £95.

[stewamax]

One way to find a private GP is just ring your nearest private hospital (Spire, Nuffield,...) and ask. They actively promote private GP services, and you will be seeing the GP there in exactly the same way as you see a consultant.

As a side-issue, could I echo Lootman's point

Of course the real reason to have insurance is to cap your out-of-pocket costs if you get seriously ill or injured.

It is just insurance, but with the added benefit that you get a certain (limited..) amount of help when you may not be in a position to arrange things or think clearly for yourself - a bit like AA or RAC breakdown cover.

[Gaggsy]

This place popped up locally fairly recently http://www.onestopdoctors.co.uk/services/gp-services/
Private GP consultations from £90

[melonfool]

If you got a private GP consultation, could they engage you in the NHS for treatment, or would you have to be private all the way afterwards? I suspect the latter, even though the former would still save the NHS money.

You can, but the consultant can't 'engage' you in the NHS, you have to do it yourself.

I saw my GP for something a couple of years ago and he was entirely useless. I had already seen an NHS referral service as well. So, I just asked my GP to refer me to the local top consultant as a private patient, which he did (after some 'checking' with his colleague and telling me about fifteen times that my health insurance wouldn't cover it - I don't have health insurance, which I think I told him 16 times).

Once I had been to the private consultant and got the info I needed, I wrote to my CCG and told them what I needed and asked them to write to my GP and confirm that it could happen. That all got done within about two weeks. I paid £150 to see the consultant privately and then slotted straight back into the NHS system and saw the same woman again, she also did my 'procedure'.

Mel

[meldrewlives]

Here's the BMA's guidance :-

https://www.bma.org.uk/-/media/files/pd ... ay2009.pdf

[Bluestone77]

I use a private GP as I need a private prescription to obtain a drug which the NHS stopped supporting. My NHS GP is not allowed to write private prescriptions.
I paid £35 for the private GP consultation and £20 for the private prescription. I can also get repeat private prescriptions for £20 without the need for a GP consultation each time.
I do not have any medical insurance.

[GSD82]

Private GP's are able to see you on a pay per visit basis. They should be able to refer you back to the NHS or to a private clinic.

Feel free to private message me if you need guidance as I am a member of the profession.