Most people are familiar with the routine. You phone the surgery at eight in the morning, wait in a queue, and if you are lucky you are offered a ten-minute slot in a fortnight’s time. When you finally sit down with the doctor, there is a sense that you need to get through your concerns quickly. Anything that does not fit in the time is left for another day.
Private GP care is not a replacement for the NHS, and it does not affect your existing GP registration. What it offers is a different kind of appointment: longer, sooner, and shaped around the questions you actually have.
Same-day access, without a referral
At Healthium Clinics, private GP appointments are available on a same-day basis in most cases, either in person at our Henley-on-Thames clinic or by video consultation. There is no need for a referral. You book, you are seen, and you leave with a clear plan.
For people with a busy working life, or those caring for children or older relatives, that speed is often the main reason for choosing a private appointment. A problem that would otherwise sit unaddressed for two or three weeks can be looked at today.
Why 30 minutes matters
Our standard consultation is 30 minutes. That is not a marketing figure; it is a clinical choice. Half an hour gives your doctor time to:
- Take a proper history rather than a headline summary
- Examine you thoroughly
- Discuss more than one concern in the same appointment
- Explain the reasoning behind any tests or treatment, not just the conclusion
- Answer the questions you thought of on the way in but usually never get to ask
Patients often tell us that the biggest difference is not the diagnosis but the understanding. Knowing why a test is being ordered, or why a symptom is unlikely to be serious, is reassuring in a way that a rushed appointment rarely is.
What our private GPs can help with
Our doctors are NHS-registered GPs with decades of experience between them. A typical week includes:
- General health concerns, from persistent coughs to unexplained tiredness
- Prescriptions, with medication collected from your local pharmacy
- Blood tests and health screening, with results explained in plain language
- Referral letters to specialists, private or NHS
- Sick notes and fit-for-work certificates
- Sexual health testing in a discreet setting
- Mental health consultations, with time to talk properly
- Travel advice and vaccinations
Home visits can be arranged on request for patients who find it difficult to travel.
Continuity of care
One of the frustrations of modern general practice is seeing a different doctor every time. In a smaller clinic, continuity is easier to offer. Where possible you will see the same GP for follow-up appointments, which means you are not repeating your story from scratch and the doctor can see how things have changed.
That continuity extends across the clinic. Because Healthium brings together private GP services, blood testing, minor surgical procedures and specialist clinics under one roof, a concern raised in a GP appointment can often be investigated or referred on within the same building.
Who private GP care suits
There is no single type of patient. Some people use a private GP for a one-off problem when the NHS wait is too long. Others prefer to have all their routine care in one place. Common reasons include:
- Wanting to be seen quickly for a concern that is worrying you
- Needing a longer appointment for a complex or long-standing problem
- Preferring to see the same doctor each time
- Requiring documentation such as medical certificates or referral letters at short notice
- Wanting a second opinion
Our private GP service is for adults. If you are unsure whether we are the right fit for your situation, our patient coordinator can talk you through the options before you book.
Common questions
Will my NHS GP know I have seen a private doctor? Only if you want them to. With your consent we can send a summary to your NHS practice so that your records stay complete, which is usually sensible if tests or a new medication are involved.
Can a private GP prescribe the same medicines as the NHS? Yes. Our doctors are fully registered GPs and can issue private prescriptions, which you collect from a pharmacy of your choice. You pay the pharmacy for the medication itself.
Do I need to be a regular patient? No. Many people see us once for a specific concern. Others return whenever they need to. There is no membership or subscription required.
How to book
Appointments can be booked online through our booking system or by calling 01628 876439. If you would like a video consultation rather than a visit to the clinic, simply select that option when booking. Healthium Clinics is CQC-registered and located at Badgemore Park, Henley-on-Thames, within easy reach of Reading, Maidenhead, Marlow and High Wycombe.
Recent Comments