A private GP appointment typically costs £80–£150 in person and £30–£60 by video, usually available the same day. Appointments run 15–30 minutes rather than the NHS's ten. If you have health insurance, check before paying: most policies now include a digital GP service at no extra cost.
- ✓Private GP appointments typically cost £80–£150 in person, £30–£60 by video — usually same-day.
- ✓A private GP referral letter unlocks specialists, scans and insurance claims.
- ✓Most health insurance policies include a digital GP service free — check before paying.
What a private GP appointment costs
Private general practice is priced by time. A standard in-person appointment of 15–20 minutes typically costs £80–£150, with 30-minute slots at £150–£250 and central London at the top of every range. Video appointments through private GP apps are much cheaper — £30–£60 — and handle a surprising share of what a GP does: assessment, prescriptions, referrals and sick notes.
| Appointment type | Typical cost | Typical availability |
|---|---|---|
| Video GP appointment | £30–£60 | Same day, often within hours |
| In-person (15–20 min) | £80–£150 | Same or next day |
| In-person (30 min) | £150–£250 | Same or next day |
| Home visit | £200–£400 | Same day in cities |
| Private prescription | Drug cost + £10–£20 | Issued at appointment |
| Referral letter | Usually included; some charge £25–£50 | At appointment |
What happens at a private GP appointment
Clinically it's the same job as NHS general practice — history, examination, diagnosis, treatment or referral — with two differences you feel immediately: you're seen the day you're ill, and the appointment isn't rushed. Fifteen to thirty minutes means multiple problems in one visit, questions actually answered, and no sense of the clock running.
- No referral needed: private GPs take direct bookings — book online, often with same-day slots. You stay registered with your NHS GP; nothing changes there.
- Prescriptions: issued privately, so you pay the drug's actual cost plus a dispensing fee — cheap for most antibiotics and standard drugs, more for branded medication.
- Tests: bloods can usually be taken at the appointment, with results in 1–3 days; imaging is referred on to private diagnostics at separate cost.
- Records: with your consent, the private GP writes to your NHS practice so your record stays complete.
The comparison point isn't an NHS waiting list here — GP appointments aren't part of the 7.3-million treatment backlog — but availability: when your NHS practice offers a telephone slot in two weeks, £80–£150 buys today, in person, with time to talk.
The referral letter — the quiet reason people book
For many people the private GP's real product is the referral letter. Private consultants prefer referrals and insurers require them before authorising claims — so when your NHS GP is booked out for two weeks, a same-day private appointment gets your specialist pathway moving immediately. A video GP at £30–£60 (or free through your insurer) can typically assess and issue a referral within a day, and it's fully valid for insurance claims and private bookings.
That makes the private GP the standard first step in the private pathway: GP today, consultant within days, diagnostics inside a fortnight — against an NHS referral-to-treatment median of 12.4 weeks once a specialist referral is made. Our guide to GP referrals for private treatment covers who can refer and what the letter needs to say.
Unlimited GP access from £38 a month
Insured vs self-pay: when the appointment is already free
| Digital GP via insurance | Self-pay private GP | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £0 — included with most policies | £30–£60 video, £80–£150 in person |
| Availability | 24/7, usually same-day video | Same or next day |
| Referrals | Valid for insurance claims and private consultants | Valid everywhere; insurers accept them |
| Prescriptions | Often free or delivered at cost | Drug cost plus dispensing fee |
| Best for | Anyone already insured — use it before paying | The uninsured, or when you want a physical examination |
The strategic point: if you find yourself paying for private GP appointments more than occasionally, the maths favours insurance. A policy for a healthy adult starts around £38 a month, includes unlimited digital GP access, and adds cover for the specialist and treatment costs that follow a referral — which is where the real money sits. See our guide to GP appointments and cover and the best digital GP services.
What a private GP can and can't do
Worth knowing before you book. A private GP can do almost everything an NHS GP can: assess and treat, prescribe (privately), refer to specialists, order private blood tests and imaging, issue fit notes and complete most medicals. What they generally can't do is refer you into NHS secondary care directly — NHS referrals normally route through your NHS practice — or prescribe at NHS charges, and a handful of high-risk drugs stay with specialists.
Some clinics also offer membership plans — typically £20–£60 a month for a set number of appointments or unlimited access — which suit families who use GPs often. Compare that against health insurance at similar monthly cost before committing: membership buys GP access only, while insurance bundles a digital GP with cover for the specialist, diagnostic and treatment costs that a referral can trigger. For most people the membership question is really an insurance question in disguise.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private GP appointment cost in the UK?
Typically £80–£150 for a 15–20 minute in-person appointment and £30–£60 by video, with 30-minute in-person slots at £150–£250 and London at the top of each range. Same-day availability is standard. Many health insurance policies include video GP appointments free.
How much is a video GP appointment compared with in person?
Video runs £30–£60 against £80–£150 in person — and handles most GP work: assessment, prescriptions, referral letters and sick notes. In-person wins when you need a physical examination. If you have health insurance, check your policy first: digital GP video appointments are usually included at no cost.
Can a private GP give me a referral letter for a specialist?
Yes — and it's one of the main reasons people book. A private GP referral is valid for private consultants and accepted by insurers for claims authorisation. A same-day video appointment at £30–£60 (or free via your insurer's digital GP) can typically get a referral issued within a day.
Do I need to leave my NHS GP to use a private GP?
No. You stay registered with your NHS practice and use private GP appointments as and when you choose. With your consent, the private GP writes to your NHS practice after the appointment so your medical record stays complete — worth saying yes to for continuity.
Are private GP prescriptions more expensive?
You pay the drug's actual cost plus a dispensing fee rather than the flat NHS charge — cheaper than the NHS charge for many generic medicines, more expensive for branded or specialist drugs. For ongoing medication, ask the private GP to suggest your NHS GP takes over prescribing.
How quickly can I get a private GP appointment?
Usually the same day — video appointments are often available within hours, and in-person slots same or next day in most cities. That's the core product: when your NHS practice offers a telephone call in two weeks, a private GP sees you today, for 15–30 unhurried minutes.
Is a private GP appointment free with health insurance?
Very often, yes — most insurers now bundle a 24/7 digital GP service with video appointments, private prescriptions and referral letters at no extra cost, and many workplace schemes include the same. Check your policy before paying £80–£150 for an appointment your cover already includes.
What happens at a private GP appointment?
The same medicine as NHS general practice — history, examination, diagnosis, prescription or referral — in 15–30 minutes instead of ten. Bloods can usually be taken on the spot with results in 1–3 days, several problems can be covered in one visit, and a letter goes to your NHS GP with consent.
Can a private GP issue sick notes and medicals?
Yes — private GPs can issue fit notes for employers, which carry the same validity as NHS ones, and most clinics offer travel medicals, visa medicals and driver (DVLA-style) assessments as fixed-price services, typically £100–£250 depending on the paperwork involved.
Is paying for a private GP worth it or should I get insurance?
Occasional use, pay as you go: £30–£150 per appointment is simple and commitment-free. But if you're booking several times a year, insurance from around £38 a month for a healthy adult includes unlimited digital GP access — and covers the consultant, diagnostics and treatment costs a referral can lead to.