How to Choose a Private GP in London

Private GP fees are not regulated in the UK. Each clinic sets its own price, its own appointment length and its own list of extras. Across the 35 London clinics with a published fee in the CheckGP directory, a standard consultation costs between £50 and £350, with a median of £117.50.

That spread is not a simple quality scale. Some of it is location, some is a longer appointment, and some is a named doctor you see every time. The checks below help you work out what you are paying for. For the full price breakdown, see how much a private GP costs in London.

Every doctor practising in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council. The register is public and free to search by name or GMC number, and it shows the doctor's registration status and whether they are on the GP register.

A clinic should be willing to tell you which doctor you will see. If a clinic lists its doctors by name, a search on the GMC medical register takes about a minute.

The Care Quality Commission regulates health services in England, including independent providers. Where it has inspected and rated a service, the rating is one of four: outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate. The full inspection report is published on the CQC website.

Two things to keep in mind. A newly registered clinic may not have been inspected yet, which is not a bad sign in itself. And a rating reflects the date of the inspection, so check how old the report is. CheckGP shows the CQC rating on each clinic profile where one exists, with a link to the source.

Many clinics advertise a "from" price. That is the lowest fee they charge, often for the shortest slot at the quietest time. Before you compare two clinics, find the fee for the appointment you would really book: in person or video, weekday or weekend, new patient or returning.

• Ask whether the price is the same at weekends and in the evening. Some clinics add a supplement.
• Ask whether new patients pay more. Some clinics charge a higher first-visit fee.
• Ignore membership prices unless you intend to join. CheckGP excludes member-only prices from its figures for this reason.

Clinics do not agree on what a standard appointment is. Some sell 15 minutes, others 20 or 30. A fee that looks twice as high can be for an appointment twice as long.

A short slot suits one clear concern. If you have several issues, or a long history to explain, a longer slot is usually better value than running out of time and booking again. The median extended consultation in the directory is £202.50.

The consultation fee normally covers the appointment itself. These are commonly charged separately, and they can add up to more than the consultation:

Speed and opening hours are often the reason people go private in the first place, and they vary as much as price does. Decide what you need, then filter for it:

• Same-day appointments if you want to be seen today.
• Walk-in clinics if you would rather not book.
• Evening appointments if you work standard hours.
• Weekend clinics, including those open on Sunday.
• Home visits if travelling to a clinic is difficult.
• Video consultations, which have a median of £90 in the directory.

A private GP is not an emergency service. For a medical emergency call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice when you are unsure, NHS 111 is available at any hour.

One appointment is rarely the whole story. Before you book, it is worth knowing how the clinic handles the next step.

• Continuity: will you see the same doctor next time, or whoever is on duty? Chains tend to offer speed, small practices tend to offer a named GP.
• Records: ask whether the clinic will send a summary to your NHS GP, and whether you have to request it.
• Referrals: a private GP can refer you to a private specialist. If you want to be seen on the NHS, your NHS GP remains the route.
• Insurance: if you plan to claim, check with both the insurer and the clinic before the appointment. Many policies do not cover routine GP visits.

Seeing a private GP does not affect your NHS registration, and you do not need a referral to book one.

1. The doctor is on the GMC register.
2. The clinic's CQC rating and the date of the inspection.
3. The exact fee for the appointment you want, on the day you want it.
4. How many minutes that fee buys.
5. The price of anything likely to be added: tests, letters, follow-up.
6. Opening hours that fit when you need to be seen.
7. How records, referrals and follow-up are handled.

CheckGP lists 58 London clinics with fees taken from each clinic's own published price list. Compare private GPs in London, or read how the prices are verified.

• Do I need a referral to see a private GP?+

  No. You can book a private GP directly, and doing so does not affect your registration with an NHS GP.
• How do I check a private GP is qualified?+

  Search the doctor's name on the General Medical Council's public medical register. It shows their registration status and whether they are on the GP register.
• Is a more expensive private GP better?+

  Not necessarily. Higher fees often reflect a longer appointment, a central location or a named doctor. Compare the appointment length, the CQC rating and what is included, not the fee alone.
• What is usually not included in a private GP fee?+

  Medication, blood tests, vaccinations, medical letters and follow-up appointments are commonly charged separately. Ask for the price of each before you agree to it.
• Can a private GP refer me to an NHS specialist?+

  A private GP can refer you to a private specialist. For NHS specialist care, your NHS GP remains the route, so ask the private clinic to send a summary to your NHS practice.

• General Medical Council: The medical register
• Care Quality Commission: Services we regulate
• Care Quality Commission: Ratings
• NHS 111 online
• CheckGP: published clinic fees, verified against each clinic's own price list

CheckGP is an independent directory and does not give medical advice. This guide covers costs and practicalities only.

• How much does a private GP cost in London?
• Compare private GPs in London
• Same-day private GP appointments
• All guides