Private GP vs NHS GP What Is Actually Different
Both private and NHS GPs are qualified doctors providing genuine medical care. The difference is not in competence but in how the system around them operates.
Understanding these differences helps you choose the right option for different situations.
The Doctors Themselves
Let me start by dispelling a myth. Private GPs are not necessarily better doctors than NHS GPs. Many work in both systems.
All GPs in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council. They complete the same medical degree, the same foundation training, and the same GP specialty training. The qualification requirements are identical.
What differs is the environment they work in and the constraints they face.
NHS GPs operate within a system designed to provide universal free healthcare to everyone. This noble goal comes with practical limitations. Huge patient lists. Limited appointment availability. Strict time constraints. Administrative burden.
Private GPs operate within a system designed to provide excellent service to those who can pay. This different goal allows different operational choices. Smaller patient numbers. More available appointments. Longer consultation times. Less paperwork.
Appointment Access
This is where the most significant practical difference lies.
NHS GP access in London has deteriorated substantially. Average wait times for routine appointments now exceed two weeks in most practices. Some areas report three to four week waits.
Getting a same day NHS appointment requires calling at 8am, competing with other patients, and hoping. Even then, you might wait on hold for 30 minutes only to be told nothing is available.
The 111 service can sometimes arrange same day appointments but this adds another layer of frustration to navigate.
Private GP access is typically same day or next day. Book online, call, or message WhatsApp and have an appointment confirmed within hours. No 8am phone queues. No uncertainty about whether you will be seen.
Experience the difference. WhatsApp us for an appointment
Appointment Length
Standard NHS GP appointments are 10 minutes. Some practices now offer 15 minutes but this remains the exception.
Ten minutes is not enough time. Consider what needs to happen. Greet the patient. Understand the presenting complaint. Take relevant history. Examine if necessary. Formulate a plan. Explain the plan. Answer questions. Document everything.
Doing all of this properly in 10 minutes is essentially impossible. Something gets sacrificed. Usually it is the explanation, the questions, or the thoroughness of assessment.
Private consultations typically run 20 to 30 minutes. Our standard appointments are 30 minutes. This allows proper conversation, comprehensive examination, clear explanation, and time for your questions.
The difference in outcomes between rushed and unhurried consultations is significant. Thorough assessment catches things that rushed assessment misses. Proper explanation improves treatment adherence. Answered questions reduce anxiety.
Continuity of Care
Seeing the same doctor each time matters. They know your history. They remember what you discussed before. They notice changes. They build a relationship that enables better care.
NHS continuity has collapsed. Most patients see whichever doctor happens to have an appointment available. Different doctor each time. Repeating your history constantly. No relationship built.
Private GP services can offer genuine continuity. You can choose your doctor and see the same person each time. They remember you. They accumulate understanding of your health over time.
This continuity particularly matters for complex or chronic conditions, mental health, and situations requiring trust and rapport.
Communication and Follow Up
After an NHS appointment, getting hold of your GP again is difficult. Results take ages to come back. Questions that arise get answered at the next appointment weeks later or not at all.
Private practices typically offer direct communication channels. Email your doctor with follow up questions. Get results explained promptly. Have concerns addressed without waiting for another appointment slot.
This ongoing access makes a genuine difference to care quality and patient experience.
Referrals and Investigations
Both NHS and private GPs can refer you to specialists and arrange investigations. The difference is speed.
NHS referral to treatment times have exploded. Waiting months for a specialist appointment is normal. Waiting over a year for certain specialties is not unusual.
Private referrals can typically be seen within one to two weeks. Sometimes sooner.
Blood tests through the NHS involve a separate phlebotomy appointment, often a week or two away, with results taking another week or more.
Private blood tests can often be done the same day with results within 24 to 48 hours.
Imaging follows similar patterns. NHS waits of weeks to months versus private availability within days.
When NHS Makes Sense
The NHS provides excellent value in certain situations.
Childhood vaccinations are free, comprehensive, and well organised through the NHS.
Long term chronic disease management programmes for conditions like diabetes and asthma are structured and funded by the NHS.
Prescriptions for those eligible for free prescriptions are obviously cheaper on the NHS.
Mental health services, while overstretched, are free when you can access them.
Emergency care through A and E remains world class and free regardless of ability to pay.
When Private Makes Sense
Private care adds most value in specific circumstances.
Urgent issues that cannot wait weeks benefit from same day access.
Complex problems requiring thorough investigation benefit from longer appointments and faster testing.
Busy professionals whose time is valuable benefit from convenience and flexibility.
Preventative health screening is essentially unavailable on the NHS but comprehensive privately.
Second opinions provide reassurance or alternative perspectives.
Mental health support when NHS wait times are unacceptable.
Specific services like travel vaccinations, detailed health checks, and certain treatments.
Using Both Systems Together
Most people who use private healthcare also use the NHS. The two are not mutually exclusive.
A sensible approach uses NHS care for routine ongoing management and private care when speed, convenience, or thoroughness matter more than cost.
You remain registered with your NHS GP even if you see a private GP occasionally. There is no conflict between the two.
Private GPs can share information with your NHS practice if you wish, ensuring continuity across both systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are private GPs actually better qualified?
No. The qualification requirements are identical. Many doctors work in both systems. The difference is in the system constraints not the doctor quality.
Can a private GP prescribe NHS prescriptions?
No. Private prescriptions must be dispensed privately. However, your NHS GP can often convert a private prescription to NHS if you subsequently see them.
Will my NHS GP know about my private consultations?
Only if you ask us to share information with them. We recommend this for continuity but it requires your consent.
Can I transfer my NHS records to a private GP?
With your consent, private GPs can access your NHS Summary Care Record. This provides essential information about medications, allergies, and major conditions.