TL;DR: To find a private GP in the UK, search online for clinics in your area, check that the GP is registered with the GMC and on the GP Register, and confirm the clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, or the equivalent regulator in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Consider location, consultation fees, available services, and appointment format before booking. No referral or NHS registration is needed to access private GP care.
Finding a private GP is easy. Finding one that is genuinely well-regulated, properly qualified, and right for your specific need takes slightly more care — and knowing exactly what to check takes the guesswork out of it entirely.
Where to Start Looking for a Private GP
A straightforward online search for private GP services in your area is the natural starting point, and it will usually surface several options to compare. Personal recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues are also worth weighing, particularly if someone you trust has had a genuinely good experience with a specific provider.
It is worth widening your search beyond clinics that are strictly local to you. Because private GP services do not operate within catchment areas the way NHS practices do, you are free to consider any provider in the UK, not just the closest one. If a clinic offers video consultations, distance becomes almost irrelevant for many types of appointment, which significantly widens your realistic options — particularly useful if local availability is limited or you simply prefer a provider further afield.
How to Check a Private GP Is Properly Registered
Every doctor working as a GP in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council and listed specifically on the GP Register — and you can check this for free in a couple of minutes.
The GMC maintains a public register that anyone can search to find a doctor and view their registration status. Simply searching the doctor’s name brings up their entry, showing whether they hold full registration with a licence to practise, and giving useful additional information about their professional standing.
Being on the general medical register alone is not quite the full picture, though. GMC guidance confirms that since 1 April 2006, all doctors working as a GP in the health services of the four countries of the UK must specifically be on the GP Register, not just the general medical register — and this requirement extends to locum GPs as well as permanent staff. If a doctor is on the GP Register, this will be shown clearly as part of their status when you search.
This registration confirms that the doctor has the recognised qualifications and training to work as a GP, and that they continue to meet the professional standards required to remain in practice, including ongoing demonstration of competence and up-to-date knowledge and skills.
How to Check a Private Clinic Is Properly Regulated
Beyond checking the individual doctor, it is worth knowing that the clinic itself is also subject to regulation, at least in England.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates healthcare providers in England, and CQC registration is a legal requirement for private GP practices before they can begin seeing patients. Inspections assess services against five key standards: whether the service is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. You can search for a specific clinic on the CQC’s website to see its registration status and the most recent inspection rating, where one has been published.
In Scotland, the equivalent regulator is Healthcare Improvement Scotland. In Wales, it is Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. In Northern Ireland, it is the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority. If you are considering a private GP outside England, checking with the relevant national regulator serves the same purpose as a CQC check would in England.
What to Consider Beyond Registration
Once you have confirmed that a provider is properly qualified and regulated, a few practical factors are worth weighing before you settle on one.
Location and travel time matter less than they do for NHS care, given the absence of catchment areas, but they are still relevant if you specifically want in-person appointments rather than video consultations. Consultation fees vary between providers, and it is worth checking exactly what is included — some clinics bundle a referral letter into the consultation fee, while others charge separately for each additional service.
The range of services offered on-site is also worth considering, particularly if you anticipate needing blood tests, an ECG, or other investigations alongside a GP consultation. Some clinics offer these directly, allowing everything to happen in a single visit, while others will refer you elsewhere for testing, adding an extra step. Appointment format flexibility — the choice between video, telephone, and in-person — and booking flexibility, including same-day or weekend availability, round out the practical considerations that genuinely affect day-to-day convenience.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
A short list of questions, asked before you commit to a booking, helps avoid any surprises later.
What exactly is included in the consultation fee, and referral letters charged separately? How long does a standard appointment last, and is a longer slot available if you need to discuss more than one concern? Can you request the same GP for a follow-up appointment, or will you typically see whoever is available? How are test results and referral letters communicated to you afterwards? And what is the clinic’s cancellation policy, in case your plans change?
Most reputable providers will answer these clearly and without hesitation — a clinic that is vague or evasive about its fees or processes is worth treating with some caution.
Do You Need a Referral or NHS Registration to See a Private GP?
No. You can book directly with a private GP without a referral from your NHS practice, without de-registering from your NHS GP, and without needing to be assessed by anyone else first.
This is one of the more reassuring aspects of private GP care for people new to it — there is no administrative hurdle to clear before your first appointment, and using a private GP does not affect your NHS registration or entitlements in any way. Most people who use private GP services keep their NHS registration throughout and simply use each service for what it does best.
Finding a private GP in the UK is straightforward once you know what to check. A quick search gets you a shortlist; verifying GMC and GP Register status confirms the doctor is properly qualified; and checking CQC registration (or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) confirms the clinic itself meets recognised standards.
At The Private GP in Birmingham, we are GMC-registered and CQC-regulated, with appointments available online or by phone — no referral or registration needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a private GP is GMC registered?
Search the doctor’s name on the GMC’s public online register, which is free to use. This shows their current registration status and confirms whether they hold a licence to practise and are listed on the GP Register specifically.
Is every private GP clinic in England CQC regulated?
Yes, legally it must be. CQC registration is a legal requirement for any private GP practice in England before it can begin seeing patients, and clinics are subject to ongoing inspection against recognised standards.
Can I find a private GP without going through a specific company or app?
Yes. Many private GP clinics can be booked directly through their own website or by phone, without needing to use a third-party app or comparison platform.
Does a private GP need to be local to me?
Not necessarily. Private GP services do not operate within catchment areas, and if a provider offers video consultations, location becomes largely irrelevant for many types of appointment.
What is the difference between the GMC register and the GP Register?
The general medical register confirms a doctor holds a valid licence to practise medicine in the UK. The GP Register is a more specific list confirming that a doctor has the recognised qualifications and training to work specifically as a GP, which has been a legal requirement since April 2006.