Written by Dr. Simon Khela MBChB MRCGP, GMC Registered Doctor
Last reviewed: 05-08-2026
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If you've ever wondered about the real difference between booking an NHS GP appointment versus going private, you're not alone. With NHS waiting times growing and more people searching for faster, more flexible care, the number of patients turning to private GPs is on the rise. But how much does it actually cost to go private and are there any hidden costs to be aware of?
Let's break it down clearly, so you know exactly what you're getting into no jargon, no fluff.
NHS services are free at the point of use which is brilliant in theory. But with staff shortages and overwhelming demand, getting a timely NHS GP appointment has become a real struggle. Most NHS appointments are limited to just 10 minutes, and it can take weeks to be seen, especially for non-urgent concerns.
Technically, NHS GP appointments are free, but there are hidden costs:
So, while the cost of a GP appointment on the NHS is zero pounds, the real cost might be your time and health.
Choosing a private GP gives you fast, flexible, and more personalised care. You can often get a same-day or next-day appointment, choose a longer session, and speak to the same doctor each time all of which can make a big difference.
The cost of a private GP appointment varies depending on where you go and how long the appointment is. On average, here's what you can expect:
At Private Medical Clinic, our prices are competitive and transparent check out our private GP prices here.
When comparing private GP costs, don't forget to factor in:
For example, private blood tests can range from £40 to £300+, and minor procedures like mole removals can start from around £180.
Still, you're paying for speed, thoroughness, and convenience and for many people, it's worth every penny.
NHS GP consultations are free at the point of use. Patients are not charged for discussing symptoms, receiving a clinical assessment or obtaining treatment provided directly by an NHS GP practice.
However, some related services can still involve a charge. Depending on where you live and your eligibility, these may include:
The NHS remains the foundation of general medical care in the UK. It is particularly valuable for managing long-term conditions, reviewing ongoing medication and coordinating treatment across different NHS services.
The difficulty for some patients is not the financial cost of the appointment, but whether they can access care at a time that works for them.
Calling NHS care “free” is accurate financially, but patients may experience indirect costs.
These can include:
These are not charges imposed by the NHS, and they should not be used to imply that NHS care is inferior. They are practical considerations that affect people differently.
A patient who works flexible hours may be able to attend an NHS appointment without difficulty. Someone who is self-employed, travels frequently or cannot easily leave work may place greater value on evening, weekend or remote access.
The most appropriate option depends on the individual’s health needs and circumstances.
Private GP fees are normally determined by the appointment type and duration.
Telephone consultations are often the least expensive option. They may be suitable for:
Prices commonly begin at around £40–£50.
At Private Medical Clinic, telephone private GP appointments currently start from £49.
A telephone consultation is not appropriate for every problem. New lumps, significant abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, injuries and symptoms requiring examination may need an in-person assessment.
Video consultations allow the doctor to speak with and visually assess the patient remotely.
They may be helpful for:
Private video GP consultations commonly cost between £50 and £100, although prices vary.
An online GP consultation can offer good value when a physical examination is unlikely to be necessary. The clinician should still advise the patient to attend in person when remote assessment is insufficient.
In-person appointments usually cost more because they include the use of clinical facilities and allow physical examination.
A standard private GP consultation commonly ranges from approximately £70 to £150. Longer appointments may cost more.
Face-to-face care may be preferable when the doctor needs to:
Private Medical Clinic provides clinic-based private GP appointments at several locations, with the exact price depending on the clinic and consultation type.
A private GP home visit often costs £200 or more. Travel distance, appointment duration and urgency can affect the final fee.
Home visits may be considered for:
Patients considering this option should ask whether the quoted fee includes travel and whether tests, medication or follow-up are charged separately.
Information about arranging a private GP home visit should explain these charges before the visit is confirmed.
Two clinics may offer what appears to be the same appointment at very different prices.
Several factors explain this.
A 15-minute appointment will usually cost less than a 30- or 40-minute consultation.
Longer appointments may be useful when a patient has:
Patients should compare both the fee and the allocated time. A cheaper appointment is not necessarily better value if it is too short for the problem being discussed.
Telephone consultations are generally less expensive than video or clinic appointments. Home visits are normally the most expensive.
Private GP fees may be higher in areas where staffing, premises and operating costs are greater. Central-city clinics may therefore charge more than clinics elsewhere.
Evening, weekend, bank holiday and urgent same-day appointments may carry an additional charge.
This is not universal, so it is worth checking before booking.
Fees may also reflect the clinician’s experience, appointment length, administrative support and whether the clinic provides continuity with the same doctor.
Some providers include basic letters, fit notes or referral letters in the consultation price. Others charge separately.
The most useful question is therefore not simply:
“How much is the appointment?”
It is:
“What is included in the price, and what might I need to pay for afterwards?”
A consultation fee normally pays for the doctor’s time, clinical assessment and advice.
It does not necessarily cover everything recommended during the appointment.
A private GP can issue a prescription when clinically appropriate.
There may be:
Unlike an NHS prescription in England, the medication is not normally charged at a standard fixed rate. The amount paid depends on the medicine, dose, quantity and dispensing pharmacy.
For some inexpensive medicines, the pharmacy cost may be modest. Other medications can cost considerably more.
Patients should ask for an estimated medication price if cost may influence their decision.
Private blood tests are usually charged separately.
The cost depends on what is being tested. A single test may be relatively inexpensive, while a comprehensive panel can cost considerably more.
Common examples include:
The clinician should explain why a test is being recommended and how the result may affect treatment.
Current options and prices can be reviewed through the clinic’s private blood-testing service.
X-rays, ultrasound scans, MRI scans, CT scans, ECGs and other investigations are normally separate from the GP consultation fee.
Before proceeding, ask:
A private GP may recommend assessment by a consultant or another specialist.
The referral letter may be included in the consultation or charged separately. The specialist’s consultation, investigations and treatment will normally involve further costs.
A private referral does not guarantee faster NHS treatment. When an NHS referral is requested, the NHS clinician or service must still decide whether the referral is clinically appropriate and how it should proceed.
Fit notes, employment letters, insurance reports, travel letters and other documentation may attract an additional fee because they require professional time and, in some cases, a review of medical records.
More complex documentation may fall under a separate medical-report service.
Some clinics include a brief results discussion in the cost of testing. Others require a paid follow-up consultation.
This should be clarified before tests are ordered.
Private GP fees for children are often similar to adult consultation fees, although some providers have separate paediatric pricing.
Parents may choose a private appointment because they need:
The child may need an in-person examination rather than a telephone or video consultation, particularly when they are very young or significantly unwell.
Parents should check whether the clinic accepts children of the relevant age and whether the consultation fee includes prescriptions, letters or follow-up.
A seriously unwell child should not wait for a private appointment. Seek urgent medical help if there is difficulty breathing, unusual drowsiness, a seizure, a non-blanching rash, signs of severe dehydration or another emergency symptom.
With pay-as-you-go care, the patient pays for the appointment they need.
This may suit someone who:
The disadvantage is that every consultation, test and referral may involve a separate charge.
Private health insurance usually involves a monthly or annual premium.
Depending on the policy, it may cover:
However, policies vary significantly. GP appointments may be included, restricted to a particular provider or excluded entirely.
Policies may also contain:
Insurance should therefore not be assumed to make every private GP appointment free.
You might be surprised to learn that private GP appointment costs can be partially or fully covered by:
Providers like Bupa, Medicspot, and Nuffield Health also offer pay-as-you-go GP services with costs ranging from £29 to £250 depending on consultation type.
If you're visiting us often or want regular support, ask about our membership options to help manage costs.
Skip long waiting times and book a same-day Private GP appointment. Our experienced doctors provide longer consultations, personalised care, private prescriptions, referrals, and diagnostic services when needed.
Absolutely. Many patients use private GPs for quick assessments, then get referred back to the NHS for ongoing treatment or specialist services. We can even send your consultation notes directly to your NHS GP to keep your medical records up to date.
It may be possible to return to an NHS pathway after a private consultation, but it should not be assumed that private assessment will bypass NHS clinical criteria or waiting arrangements.
The NHS service will decide:
Patients should ask both the private consultant and NHS GP how the transition would work before committing to expensive investigations.
This is particularly important when a private specialist recommends medication or monitoring that an NHS practice may not be able to take over immediately.
There is no universal answer.
For some patients, an NHS GP is entirely appropriate and provides the continuity needed without a consultation fee.
For others, paying for private access may be valuable because it provides:
The decision should be based on the patient’s needs rather than the assumption that private medicine is automatically better.
Clinical standards should remain high in both settings. Private care changes how the service is accessed and funded; it does not create a different form of medicine.
A useful way to decide is to ask:
Price matters, but it should not be the only consideration.
Before booking, check:
Be cautious of providers that make guaranteed claims, recommend extensive testing without explanation or make it difficult to understand the total likely cost.
When it comes to choosing between NHS and private GP services, it's not just about money it's about time, convenience, and the level of care you want. The cost of GP appointment on the NHS might be £0, but the private GP cost buys you quicker access, more attention, and more control over your health.
If you're considering going private, we're here to help. Get in touch with a Private Medical Clinic to book your appointment or learn more about your options.
Related services:
Typically, a private GP appointment cost ranges from £40 to £250, depending on the provider, location, and length of the consultation.
If you value fast access, longer consultations, and flexible appointments, yes for many people, the cost of a private GP appointment is well worth the investment.
Yes, private GPs can issue prescriptions. However, the medication costs must usually be covered by the patient.
Yes, many private GPs (including ours) can refer patients back into NHS care when needed, especially for hospital-based investigations or specialist referrals.
A private GP consultation commonly costs between £50 and £150. Telephone appointments may start at around £40–£50, while longer face-to-face consultations and home visits can cost more.
Current Private Medical Clinic fees start from £49 for a telephone GP consultation. Video, face-to-face and home-visit prices vary, so patients should check the current fee for their selected clinic before booking.
Yes. NHS GP consultations are free at the point of use. Some related items, such as prescriptions in England, certain travel services and non-NHS medical reports, may involve charges.
Usually not. A private prescription may involve a prescribing charge, and the patient normally pays the pharmacy’s price for the medicine.
Blood tests are normally charged separately unless the provider clearly states that they are included in a particular package.
Private online GP appointments commonly cost between £40 and £100, depending on the provider and whether the consultation is by telephone or video.
Yes, provided the clinic accepts children of that age. Fees may be similar to adult appointments, and an in-person assessment may be recommended.
Yes. Most private GP services allow patients to pay for individual appointments without insurance or membership.
Some policies include virtual or face-to-face GP access, but others do not. Check the policy’s exclusions, limits, excess and approved-provider requirements.
A private GP can write to your NHS GP or recommend an NHS referral. Your NHS clinician must independently decide whether the referral is clinically appropriate.
You may later enter or return to NHS care, but the NHS service will apply its own clinical criteria and waiting pathway. A private consultation does not guarantee immediate NHS treatment.
They can be, although this varies between providers. Check whether an out-of-hours surcharge applies before confirming the appointment.
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