Private GP costs in 2026
A private GP appointment in the UK typically costs between £40 for a brief online consultation and £250 or more for an extended in-person visit in a major city.
The initial fee acts as a baseline. The exact price you pay to speak to a doctor will depend on how long you need and how you choose to connect.
Average UK private GP costs (2026)
- Online/video consultation (15 mins): £40 to £89
- In-clinic consultation (15 to 20 mins): £75 to £150
- Extended consultation (30 mins+): £120 to £250+
- Home visit: £200 to £500+
It is crucial to remember that the initial consultation fee is often just the starting point. When planning your budget, you must factor in that any medication, testing, or specialist letters will incur additional charges.
Included fees and extra costs
The advertised consultation fee typically covers the doctor's time and a basic examination, but it rarely includes follow-up tests, medication, or administrative tasks. Understanding this distinction prevents unexpected bills at the end of your visit.
Included consultation fees
When you pay the upfront price to book an appointment, you are paying for the clinical assessment. This standard fee covers:
- The GP's time and expertise for the allocated 15 or 20 minutes.
- A comprehensive discussion of your symptoms and medical history.
- A non-invasive physical examination, such as checking your chest or looking in your ears (if you attend an in-person clinic).
- Basic medical advice and a potential diagnosis.
Additional service prices
If your GP recommends treatment or further investigation, these services are almost always billed separately. Private clinics charge administration fees to write documents, and you must pay the private market rate for any laboratory work.
If your doctor recommends blood tests, the clinic will draw the blood and send it to a private laboratory, which generates a separate charge.
Full patient journey costs
A full patient journey typically costs between £89 for a simple virtual infection treatment and over £300 for a complex diagnostic investigation, depending on the required tests and specialist referrals. To understand the true cost of private healthcare, you must calculate how fees add up across a complete episode of care. Here are three costed examples of common patient situations in 2026.
Simple urinary tract infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection is a common bacterial infection that often requires prompt treatment with antibiotics. This issue is usually resolved quickly via a virtual consultation.
- Step 1: 15-minute video consultation (£59)
- Step 2: Private prescription administration fee (£20)
- Step 3: Cost of antibiotics at the pharmacy (~£10)
- Total estimated cost: ~£89
Investigating persistent fatigue
Persistent fatigue requires a more detailed investigation. The doctor will need a longer appointment to take a thorough history and will almost certainly request blood tests to check for conditions like anaemia or an underactive thyroid.
- Step 1: 30-minute extended in-person consultation (£120)
- Step 2: Referral for blood tests (£0 - this administration fee is often waived if tests are done in-house)
- Step 3: Comprehensive 'fatigue' blood panel (£150)
- Step 4: 15-minute follow-up phone call to discuss the results (£40)
- Total estimated cost: ~£319
Paediatric recurring ear infection
Paediatric appointments often involve managing acute distress for parents. If a child has otitis media (a middle ear infection) that keeps returning, the GP may prescribe initial relief but will also refer the child to a specialist.
- Step 1: 20-minute standard in-person consultation (£95)
- Step 2: Private prescription administration fee (£20)
- Step 3: Cost of liquid antibiotics at the pharmacy (~£15)
- Step 4: Referral letter to a private Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist (£40)
- Total estimated cost: ~£170 (before any specialist consultant fees are incurred)
Frequently asked questions
Appointments for children are not typically more expensive than appointments for adults, as the base consultation fee remains the same regardless of age. However, paediatric care often involves more complex decision-making. Doctors frequently write referral letters to specialist paediatricians to ensure a child receives the safest ongoing care, which will incur additional referral fees.
To share information from your private GP with your NHS doctor, you must manage the communication yourself to ensure continuity of care. After your private appointment, request a clinical summary or discharge letter from the private doctor. You should then contact your NHS GP surgery and ask their reception team how to submit a private medical letter for inclusion in your NHS file.
You might pay for a private GP when the NHS is free to secure an appointment on the same day. Private services often offer evening and weekend availability, longer appointment slots that do not feel rushed, and the ability to choose a specific doctor or appointment time that fits around work commitments.
A private GP cannot issue an NHS prescription, as private doctors can only issue private prescriptions. You cannot take a private prescription to a pharmacy and pay the standard NHS prescription charge. Instead, you must pay the pharmacy the full cost price of the medication, plus any dispensing fee the pharmacy chooses to apply.
Whether it is cheaper to use private medical insurance or pay as you go depends entirely on how often you seek medical care. Paying as you go is cheaper if you only need a doctor once or twice a year for minor ailments. Insurance becomes more cost-effective if you anticipate needing regular appointments, expensive diagnostic scans, or ongoing specialist consultant care.