Private GP Appointment Costs in the UK

Can’t get a GP appointment for three weeks? Considering going private instead? You’re not alone — growing numbers of people are paying out of pocket for primary care. But how much does a private GP appointment cost in the UK, what do you actually get for the money, and when is it worth it? Here’s the straight answer, with real prices.

The Prices: What You’ll Actually Pay

Private GP costs vary by provider and location (London is pricier), but typical 2026 prices look like this:

• Standard appointment (15–20 min): £70–£150. This is the most common offering — roughly the price of a nice dinner for two.
• Extended appointment (30–45 min): £150–£300. For complex issues, second opinions, or thorough health MOTs.
• Video/phone consultation: £50–£100. Cheaper and convenient for straightforward issues, prescriptions, and follow-ups.
• New patient registration + first appointment: often £150–£250 including a comprehensive initial assessment.
• Health screening / MOT packages: £300–£1,500+ depending on depth — from basic bloods and lifestyle review to full-body imaging.

On top of the consultation fee, expect to pay separately for blood tests (£50–£300+ depending on the panel), prescriptions (private prescription charges plus the medication cost — often £15–£50 per item all in), referrals to specialists (£200–£350 for the initial private consultation), and any imaging.

What You Get for the Money

The core product isn’t different medicine — it’s access and time:

• Speed. Same-day or next-day appointments versus weeks of waiting. This is the #1 reason people go private.
• Time. 20–30 minutes with a doctor who isn’t watching the clock, versus the NHS’s roughly 10-minute standard slot. Complex issues get proper discussion.
• Continuity. Seeing the same doctor each time, who knows your history.
• Convenience. Evening and weekend appointments, video options, plush waiting rooms (if that matters to you).
• Proactive screening. Comprehensive health checks that go beyond what the NHS offers routinely.

What you don’t get: better-qualified doctors (many private GPs also work in the NHS), NHS prescriptions (private prescriptions cost more), or free follow-on care — referrals and tests are private-priced unless transferred back to the NHS.

When It’s Worth It — and When It Isn’t

Worth considering

• You need to be seen quickly and can’t wait for an NHS slot.
• You have a complex issue that needs more than 10 minutes.
• You want a second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan.
• You want comprehensive screening the NHS doesn’t routinely offer at your age.
• You’re comparing with other private costs — our guide to private dental costs covers the other big private healthcare spend.

Probably not worth it

• Straightforward issues your NHS GP could handle if you can wait.
• As a permanent replacement for NHS primary care — the costs compound fast (£1,000+/year for regular users).
• Emergencies — call 999 or go to A&E; private GPs aren’t emergency services.
• When what you actually need is a specialist referral — though a private GP can refer privately faster, the specialist fees follow.

The Hybrid Approach Most People Actually Use

Few people go fully private for primary care. The common pattern: stay registered with an NHS GP for ongoing care, prescriptions, and referrals (our guide to registering with a GP covers the basics), and use private appointments tactically — one £100 consultation to get seen this week rather than next month, then back to the NHS for follow-up. Many private GPs will write to your NHS GP, keeping your records joined up.

Private Health Insurance vs Pay-As-You-Go

If you’re using private GP services more than a few times a year, compare with health insurance — policies from £50–£150/month often include unlimited private GP access (usually via video) plus specialist and diagnostic cover. For occasional use, pay-as-you-go is cheaper. Do the maths on your actual usage pattern.

Private Prescriptions and Follow-On Costs

The consultation fee is just the entry ticket — understand the follow-on costs before you commit. Private prescriptions are the big one: you pay the private prescription charge plus the actual medication cost, which for common drugs runs £15–£50 per item but can be far more for specialist medicines. If you’re likely to need ongoing medication, ask the private GP whether your NHS GP can take over prescribing once the treatment plan is established — many will, via a shared-care arrangement, which brings costs back to standard NHS prescription charges.

Blood tests ordered privately typically cost £50–£300 depending on how comprehensive the panel is. Referrals to private specialists run £200–£350 for initial consultations, with procedures on top. These costs cascade quickly, which is why the hybrid approach works best for most people: use private care to get seen and diagnosed fast, then transition stable, ongoing management back to the NHS where possible.

One more tip: if you’re considering private health insurance, read the outpatient limits carefully. Many policies cap outpatient consultations and diagnostics annually — fine for occasional use, inadequate if you need extensive investigation. And remember that pre-existing conditions usually have waiting periods or exclusions. For one-off speed, pay-as-you-go private GP appointments are usually simpler and cheaper than insuring against the possibility. The Which? health insurance guides compare UK policies independently.

The Bottom Line

A private GP appointment costs £70–£150 for a standard consultation, £50–£100 by video, and £150–£300 for extended appointments — plus extras for tests and prescriptions. You’re buying speed, time, and convenience, not different medicine. For most people, the smart move is tactical use alongside NHS registration: pay privately when waiting isn’t an option, use the NHS for everything else. It’s not cheap, but for the right situation, a hundred pounds for answers this week instead of anxiety for a month is money well spent.