Is a Private GP Worth It? Private GP vs NHS, an Honest Comparison
A private GP is worth it when you need to be seen quickly, when you want longer with a doctor, or when you need something the NHS cannot provide at short notice, such as a same day sick note, a referral letter or a medical for work or travel. The NHS remains the right place for emergencies, long term conditions and anything that can safely wait. Most of our patients use both: the NHS as their home base, and us when time matters. The Online GP by The Wellness sees patients the same day, 7 days a week, from £59.
What you get for the fee
Every appointment is with a GMC registered doctor, by phone, by video or in person. Consultations are unhurried, so there is time to examine you properly and agree a plan. Where the doctor agrees it is clinically appropriate, prescriptions can be sent to your local pharmacy the same day, and referral letters, sick notes and fit notes can be issued during the consultation itself. You receive a written record of the consultation to share with your NHS practice. Harley Street consultations sit at £250 to £350 in normal hours. Appointments are £59 for a 15 minute phone consultation, £150 for a video consultation and £220 for an in person appointment, confirmed before you book.
Contact us to ask about availability today.
What happens after your consultation
You leave with a written record covering the history, the examination, the diagnosis and the plan, which you can share with your NHS practice so your records stay complete. Prescriptions go electronically to a pharmacy near you, usually ready within the hour. If you need blood tests or a scan, we arrange them and tell you the costs before anything is booked. If you need a specialist, the referral letter is written during the consultation. And you get clear safety netting: what should improve, how quickly, and what to do if it does not. Follow up is by the same route you booked, phone, video or in person.When the NHS is the better choice
We say this plainly because it is true. For medical emergencies call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent problems that are not emergencies, NHS 111 is free around the clock. For long term conditions, repeat prescriptions and routine screening, your NHS practice provides continuity of care at no cost at the point of use, and pharmacists can treat several common conditions free under Pharmacy First. If that is what you need and you can get an appointment, take it.
What the evidence says about getting seen
NHS England publishes monthly data on GP appointments, and it shows practices delivering record numbers of appointments while demand continues to grow faster than capacity. National patient surveys regularly report routine waits of two weeks or more in many areas, and The Kings Fund has documented the same pattern: more appointments delivered, longer waits for routine care. That gap between needing advice this week and getting a routine slot is exactly where a same day private consultation earns its fee.When patients tell us it was worth it
You cannot get an NHS appointment this week and you need answers now. You need documentation for work or travel on a deadline, such as a fit note or a medical certificate. You want a longer consultation to talk a concern through properly rather than a rushed few minutes. You need a private referral to a specialist without joining a waiting list. You simply want to speak to a doctor today, including same day and weekend telephone appointments.
Contact us and we will tell you the earliest available appointment.
Common questions
Do I have to leave my NHS GP? No. Most of our patients stay registered with their NHS practice and see us when they need to be seen quickly.
Will my NHS GP know about the consultation? With your consent, we share a written record so your NHS file stays complete.
Can a private GP prescribe? Yes. Our doctors are GMC registered and can issue private prescriptions where clinically appropriate. The pharmacy charges you for the medication itself.
Will my employer accept a private fit note? A fit note from a GMC registered doctor is a valid medical certificate, and employers accept them in the same way as an NHS note.
How quickly can I be seen?
Usually the same day, 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends. Phone appointments are often available within hours.
Is a private GP worth it for something small?
For minor problems a pharmacist can treat under Pharmacy First, start there: it is free. A consultation earns its fee when you want an examination, a diagnosis you can act on, or documentation the pharmacy cannot issue.The bottom line
If you can wait and the NHS can see you, use it. If time matters, a private GP is often the fastest way to a clear answer and a plan. The Online GP by The Wellness sees patients by phone, video and in person, usually the same day. Contact us and tell us what you need, and we will find you the earliest appointment.