How Much Does a Private GP Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)

Chun Tang
Dec 20, 2025
5 min read

How much does a private GP cost in the UK? A 2026 plain-English guide

If you’ve ever tried to compare private GP prices, you’ll know how frustrating it is. One clinic quotes £50, another £180, and most of them don’t tell you what’s actually included until you’re at the till.

This guide cuts through it. Below you’ll find typical UK price ranges, what should and shouldn’t be included in your fee, the hidden extras to watch for, and a simple checklist you can use before booking anywhere.

The short answer

A private GP appointment in the UK in 2026 typically costs £50 to £180 for a standard consultation. Most clinics fall in the £75–£120 range. Telephone and video consultations are usually cheaper than in-person ones.

At Northwest Health in Bamber Bridge, private GP appointments start at £50, with up to 30 minutes of consultation time included.

What you’re actually paying for

A private GP fee usually covers four things:

Time with the doctor. Most NHS GP appointments are 10 minutes. Private appointments are typically 20–30 minutes, sometimes longer.
A clinical assessment. Examination, history-taking, and a clear explanation of what’s going on.
A plan. Next steps, whether that’s a prescription, a referral, a test, or simply reassurance.
The administrative work. Writing up your notes, sending letters where needed.

What’s often not included:

Prescriptions (the medication itself, plus sometimes a fee to issue the script)
Sick notes / fit notes
Referral letters to specialists
Blood tests or imaging
Follow-up appointments

This is where prices get murky. A “£50 consultation” can become a £150 visit once you add a sick note, a referral, and a repeat script.

Typical UK price ranges in 2026

Initial consultation - Telephone or video: £40–£90 - In-person, 20 minutes: £80–£130 - In-person, 30 minutes: £100–£180 - Extended (45+ minutes, complex cases): £150–£250

Follow-up consultation - Telephone: £40–£70 - In-person: £70–£120

Documents and extras - Private prescription (the paperwork): £15–£30 - Sick note / fit note: £15–£40 - Referral letter to a specialist: £20–£60 - Travel vaccination consultation: £30–£60 (plus vaccines) - Repeat prescription review: £25–£50

Common add-on tests - Basic blood test panel: £60–£150 - Comprehensive health screen: £200–£600 - ECG: £40–£80 - Private MRI scan: £350–£800 (varies hugely by body part)

These are typical ranges, not promises. London and Harley Street clinics sit at the top end. Regional clinics in the North West are usually £30–£50 cheaper for the same service.

Why prices vary so much

Four things drive the cost:

Location. A Harley Street GP charges London property rates. A regional clinic doesn’t.
Length of appointment. A 15-minute slot at £70 is roughly the same value-per-minute as a 30-minute slot at £140.
What’s bundled in. Some clinics include one document free with each consultation. Others charge separately for every piece of paper.
Who you’re seeing. A GP with a specialist interest (sports medicine, menopause, men’s health) may charge more.

The hidden costs to watch for

This is where people get caught out:

“From £50” pricing. The headline price is often the telephone rate, and only for a short slot. The in-person price can be twice as much.
Membership upsells. Some clinics push you toward a monthly membership instead of a one-off appointment. Worth it if you need ongoing care, expensive if you don’t.
Per-document charges. A prescription, a referral, and a sick note from one appointment can add £60–£90 to your bill.
Follow-up requirements. Some clinics insist on a paid follow-up to discuss test results, even when results are normal.
Prescription mark-ups. Private prescriptions are dispensed at full retail price — no NHS subsidy. A medication that costs you £9.90 on the NHS can cost £25–£60 privately.

Always ask the clinic for a full quote that includes likely documents and any follow-up before you book.

Is a private GP worth the money?

That depends on what you need. A private GP is usually worth the cost when:

You need to be seen quickly and can’t wait two or three weeks
You have several concerns and need a longer appointment to discuss them
You want a second opinion on an NHS diagnosis
You need a specialist referral fast (private referrals bypass NHS waiting lists)
You want continuity — seeing the same GP each time
You need a private sick note, fitness-to-fly letter, or pre-employment medical

It’s not usually worth it when:

You need an NHS-only service (some specialist mental health pathways, addiction services, free prescriptions if you qualify)
You need a controlled drug that requires NHS-only prescribing
Your concern is minor and you can comfortably wait for an NHS slot

How to compare clinics properly

Before you book, ask these five questions:

How long is the appointment?
What’s included in the consultation fee?
What do prescriptions, sick notes and referral letters cost separately?
Is there a charge for follow-up to discuss results?
Are GMC-registered NHS-experienced GPs delivering the appointment?

The answer to question 5 matters more than people realise. Plenty of “online GP” services are run by overseas doctors not registered with the General Medical Council. A GMC number is non-negotiable.

What it costs at Northwest Health

For full transparency, here’s our pricing:

Initial consultation: From £50 (telephone), £80 (video or in-person)
Up to 30 minutes with a GMC-registered GP
Documents (prescription, sick note, referral letter): £20 each
Follow-up consultations: From £50 (telephone), £80 (video or in-person)
A £25 prepayment taken at booking — fully deducted from your final fee

There are no membership requirements, and you don’t need to be registered as a patient to book.

See our full pricing and book here.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim private GP costs on my health insurance? Some policies cover private GP appointments, others don’t. Bupa, AXA, Vitality and WPA each have different rules. Check your policy or call your insurer before booking.

Is a private GP cheaper than A&E? A&E is free at the point of use, so technically yes, A&E is cheaper. But A&E is for emergencies. A private GP is appropriate for non-urgent medical advice that you don’t want to wait three weeks for.

Can a private GP prescribe everything an NHS GP can? Almost. Private GPs can issue private prescriptions for any medication legal for a GP to prescribe in the UK. Controlled drugs (strong opioids, certain stimulants, some sleeping tablets) require additional documentation and may not be possible in a single appointment.

Will my NHS GP know I’ve seen a private GP? Only if you ask us to share a summary letter. With your written consent, we’ll send a copy of your consultation notes to your NHS GP so your records stay joined up.

Do private GPs do home visits? Some do, usually at a significant premium (£200–£400). Most consultations work fine by video or in-person at a clinic.

In summary

A typical private GP appointment in the UK costs £50–£180 in 2026, depending on length, location, and what’s included. The honest cost is usually the consultation fee plus £20–£40 for any documents you need.

The most important question isn’t “how much” — it’s “what do I get for that, and what will I be charged extra for?” Get the full picture before you book.

About the author

Dr Chun Tang (MBChB, MRCGP, MBA) is a GMC-registered private GP and co-founder of Northwest Health in Bamber Bridge, Preston. He is Medical Director of Biox Medical Ltd, the UK distributor of ColoAlert®, and has been featured in The Daily Telegraph, The Mirror, BBC, and GB News as a trusted medical commentator.

Need to see a GP soon?Book a same-day private GP appointment at Northwest Health — from £50, no registration required.