Stop smoking with a private GP in London: what actually works in 2026
Most smokers have tried to stop more than once, and most have done it alone. That is the hard way. The NHS is clear that you are around three times as likely to quit for good with structured stop smoking support as with willpower alone, and modern medication has moved the odds further still. If you want that support quickly, privately and on your own schedule, a private GP can assess you the same day, prescribe the most effective stop smoking medicines where they are suitable, and follow you through the first difficult weeks. At The Online GP by The Wellness, consultations are with UK-registered doctors, by phone, video or in person in Marylebone.
Why quitting alone so often fails
Nicotine is a genuine addiction, not a habit or a character flaw. It acts on the brain's reward pathways, and withdrawal brings irritability, poor concentration, restlessness, low mood and strong cravings, worst in the first one to two weeks. Each cigarette also pairs nicotine with the routines of your day: coffee, commuting, alcohol, stress. Willpower has to fight the chemistry and the routine at the same time, which is why unaided quit attempts succeed only around three to five times in a hundred at a year. Support and medication exist precisely to change that arithmetic, and using them is the sensible, evidence-based choice, not a weakness.
What actually works, according to the evidence
Behavioural support plus medication. Cochrane reviews have consistently found that combining structured behavioural support with stop smoking medication roughly doubles the chance of quitting compared with either alone. This combination is the backbone of NHS stop smoking services and of good private care alike.
Varenicline. A prescription tablet that partially stimulates nicotine receptors, easing cravings while blunting the reward from smoking. Cochrane evidence shows it roughly doubles the chance of quitting compared with placebo, and it performs at least as well as other single medicines. Your doctor checks it is suitable for you before prescribing.
Nicotine replacement therapy. Patches, gum, lozenges, sprays and inhalators replace nicotine without the tar and toxins of smoke. Using a long-acting patch with a fast-acting form for cravings works better than one product alone, increasing quit chances by around half. NRT is safe for most people, including those with heart disease.
Bupropion. Another prescription option that roughly doubles quit rates versus placebo, sometimes chosen when it suits the person's wider health picture. It is not right for everyone, which is exactly what the consultation is for.
What about vaping?
Honest answer: the evidence, including Cochrane reviews and the position of UK public health bodies, supports e-cigarettes as an effective quitting aid for adult smokers, likely at least as effective as NRT. They are not risk-free and are not for non-smokers or young people, but for a smoker switching completely, they are far less harmful than continuing to smoke. If vaping is part of your plan, your doctor will discuss it openly rather than lecture you, and the goal remains the same: free of cigarettes first, then free of nicotine altogether if and when you are ready.
How a private GP can help
NHS stop smoking services are free and genuinely good, and if you have the time to use one, you should. What a private GP adds is speed, flexibility and continuity. You can be seen the same day, including evenings and weekends, without a waiting list. Your doctor reviews your smoking history, health, previous quit attempts and what has derailed them, checks which medicines are safe for you, prescribes varenicline, NRT or bupropion where appropriate with the prescription sent straight to your chosen pharmacy, and arranges follow-up through the crucial first month, adjusting the plan when cravings or side effects bite. If stress, anxiety or low mood is tangled up with your smoking, that can be addressed in the same plan rather than referred elsewhere. A phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150, and an in-person appointment at our Marylebone clinic is £220. Want to talk it through first? Message us on WhatsApp for a free triage and we will help you choose the right appointment.
What a quit plan with us looks like
1. Assessment. Your doctor maps your smoking pattern, nicotine dependence, triggers, past attempts and medical history, and agrees a quit date with you, usually within the next two weeks.
2. Medication and preparation. The right medicine is prescribed and started on schedule: varenicline begins before the quit date, NRT typically on it. You leave with a written plan for the trigger moments you have identified together.
3. Follow-up. A check-in around week one or two, when relapse risk is highest, then further reviews as needed. Doses are adjusted, side effects managed, and slips treated as data, not failure: most successful quitters needed more than one attempt.
What does private stop smoking support cost?
With The Online GP by The Wellness, a phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150, and an in-person consultation is £220. Private GP appointments elsewhere in London commonly run £100 to £250 before prescriptions. You pay the pharmacy's normal price for any medicine prescribed, which for a course of NRT or tablets is typically a fraction of what the same weeks of cigarettes would have cost.
Why choose The Online GP by The Wellness
Every consultation is with a UK-registered, GMC-registered doctor, not a questionnaire. Same-day appointments run seven days a week, prescriptions go straight to your chosen pharmacy, and your follow-up is with a doctor who already knows your history. If your quit plan needs more than medication, from anxiety support to a full health check, it happens under one roof. You can also read about our same-day private GP appointments, same-day support for anxiety and low mood, and evening and weekend appointments.
To start your quit plan, call 020 3951 3429, email team@thewellnesslondon.com or book an appointment online.
Frequently asked questions
Can a private GP prescribe stop smoking medication?
Yes. A private GP can assess you and prescribe varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion where they are suitable and safe for you, with the prescription sent electronically to a pharmacy you choose.
What is the most effective way to quit smoking?
The strongest evidence supports combining behavioural support with medication. Varenicline and combination NRT are the best-supported medicines, roughly doubling quit rates compared with placebo in Cochrane reviews. Support roughly triples success compared with going it alone.
Is it worth quitting after years of smoking?
Yes, at any age. Blood pressure and circulation begin improving within days to weeks, lung function within months, and the risks of heart attack, stroke and cancer fall steadily year by year. The body starts recovering from your first smoke-free day.
How many times does it take to quit for good?
Most people need several attempts, and each one teaches you what your triggers are. A relapse is part of the process, not proof you cannot quit, and a doctor can adjust the plan so the next attempt addresses what went wrong.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
For an adult smoker who switches completely, vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, and UK evidence supports it as a quitting aid. It is not risk-free and is not recommended for non-smokers. Your doctor will discuss it honestly as one option among several.
How much does stop smoking support cost at The Online GP by The Wellness?
A phone consultation is £59 for 15 minutes, a video consultation is £150 and an in-person appointment is £220. You pay the pharmacy's normal price for any prescribed medication.
This article is for information and does not replace personal medical advice. Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. Last updated October 2026.