Private GP memberships provide access to private primary care in return for a monthly or annual subscription. Depending on the plan, this may include a limited number of appointments, unlimited consultations, longer appointments, health checks or discounts on additional services.
In the UK, individual private GP memberships commonly cost approximately £20 to £100 per month, although premium plans offering greater continuity and longer appointments may cost £100 to £250 per month or more.
A pay-as-you-go private GP appointment generally costs around £50 to £150. Longer consultations, home visits and appointments at premium London clinics can cost £150 to £300 or more.
| Private GP option | Typical price |
|---|---|
| App-based or remote membership | Approximately £5–£30 per month |
| Basic clinic membership | Approximately £20–£60 per month |
| Comprehensive individual membership | Approximately £60–£150 per month |
| Premium or concierge-style membership | Approximately £150–£300+ per month |
| Pay-as-you-go video or telephone appointment | Approximately £40–£100 |
| Pay-as-you-go face-to-face appointment | Approximately £70–£150 |
| Extended private GP consultation | Approximately £120–£250+ |
| Private GP home visit | Approximately £150–£500+ |
The lowest subscription is not automatically the best value. Some plans include remote advice only, restrict the number or length of appointments, or charge separately for tests, prescriptions and referral letters.
Prices vary by location, provider, appointment length and level of service. Always check the provider’s current terms before joining, as membership fees and included benefits can change.
How does private GP membership work?
You pay a regular subscription to a private GP practice or digital healthcare provider. In return, you receive a defined package of primary-care services.
A membership may include:
- a fixed number of GP appointments each year;
- unlimited consultations subject to fair-use rules;
- same-day or next-day appointment access;
- telephone, video or face-to-face consultations;
- longer appointments than the provider’s standard service;
- access to the same GP or a small clinical team;
- prescription-writing services;
- referral letters;
- an annual health review;
- discounts on blood tests, scans or physiotherapy;
- secure messaging or administrative support.
Some plans resemble a prepaid appointment package. Others operate more like a traditional private family-doctor service, with greater continuity and ongoing management of health concerns.
Membership normally covers primary-care access rather than every healthcare expense. It is not the same as comprehensive private medical insurance.
How much does a private GP subscription cost?
Published UK membership prices vary significantly. Some remote-access plans cost only a few pounds per month, while established private practices may charge more than £100 per adult each month.
| Example membership level | Possible monthly cost | Possible annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Low-cost digital access | £5–£20 | £60–£240 |
| Basic clinic plan | £20–£50 | £240–£600 |
| Enhanced individual plan | £50–£100 | £600–£1,200 |
| Premium family-doctor service | £100–£250+ | £1,200–£3,000+ |
For illustration, HCA UK publishes a GP subscription costing £260 annually or £25.49 per month, while other private practices advertise individual plans around £45 to £65 per month. Premium London memberships can exceed £100 per month and may also charge a joining fee.
These examples show how widely the service model varies. A £20 membership with appointment charges is not directly comparable with a £100 plan that includes regular consultations.
Check whether paying annually provides a discount. Also check whether an annual payment is refundable if you move, become seriously ill, enter hospital or decide that the service is unsuitable.
How much does pay-as-you-go private GP care cost?
With pay-as-you-go care, you book and pay for each appointment separately. There is no continuing subscription.
A straightforward remote consultation may cost approximately £40 to £100. Standard face-to-face appointments often cost £70 to £150, depending on location and duration.
Appointment length has a significant effect on price:
| Appointment type | Possible price |
|---|---|
| 10–15-minute remote consultation | £40–£80 |
| 10–15-minute face-to-face consultation | £60–£100 |
| 20–30-minute consultation | £90–£160 |
| 45–60-minute consultation | £150–£300+ |
As a current published example, Bupa lists a 15-minute remote consultation at £59 and a face-to-face appointment at £79. Its longer face-to-face consultations cost more. Tests and further treatment are charged separately.
Our guide to private same-day GP appointment costs compares remote and in-person options in more detail.
When does membership become cheaper than paying per appointment?
The break-even point depends on the annual subscription, the number of included visits and the clinic’s normal appointment price.
For example:
| Example | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Two pay-as-you-go appointments at £90 | £180 |
| Four pay-as-you-go appointments at £90 | £360 |
| Six pay-as-you-go appointments at £90 | £540 |
| Membership at £35 per month | £420 |
| Membership at £65 per month | £780 |
If a £420 membership genuinely includes all GP consultations, it becomes cheaper than £90 pay-as-you-go visits after approximately five appointments. If the plan still charges £30 for each visit, the calculation changes.
Use this formula:
Total membership cost = annual subscription + appointment charges + likely additional fees.
Compare that with:
Total pay-as-you-go cost = expected number of appointments × consultation price.
Do not include imaginary savings on services you are unlikely to use. A free annual health check has little financial value if you neither need nor want it.
What should be included in a membership?
The provider should give you a clear written description of the service before you subscribe. The word “membership” has no standard package definition.
Confirm whether the fee includes:
- face-to-face appointments;
- telephone and video appointments;
- same-day bookings;
- evening or weekend access;
- a choice of clinic locations;
- a named or regular GP;
- longer consultations;
- multiple health concerns in one appointment;
- repeat prescription administration;
- referral letters;
- fit notes and medical certificates;
- review of externally performed test results;
- an annual health assessment;
- secure messages between appointments.
Ask how quickly appointments are normally available. “Priority access” does not necessarily guarantee a same-day appointment, particularly at weekends or during periods of high demand.
Also ask whether remote consultations are provided by the clinic’s regular doctors or by a separate national network. This affects continuity and the likelihood of seeing the same clinician.
Which costs are usually excluded?
Even plans described as comprehensive or unlimited commonly exclude investigations, treatment and third-party fees.
| Possible extra | How it may be charged |
|---|---|
| Private prescription | Administration fee, medicine cost or both |
| Blood tests | Per test or as a panel |
| Urine, swab or stool tests | Laboratory and collection fees |
| ECG | Separate procedure and interpretation fee |
| X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI | Charged by the imaging provider |
| Vaccinations | Appointment, vaccine or combined fee |
| Specialist referral | Letter may be included, but the consultant is not |
| Home visit | Separate fee based on location and time |
| Medical report or form | Administrative fee |
| Minor procedure | Procedure, consumables and laboratory charges |
A prescription being “included” may mean only that the doctor will issue it without an administrative charge. You will normally still pay the pharmacy’s private price for the medicine.
Specialist consultations, hospital treatment and surgery are not normally included. A private GP can arrange a referral, but you or your insurer will need to pay the specialist.
What does “unlimited appointments” really mean?
Unlimited access is attractive, but it rarely means unrestricted use in every circumstance.
The membership terms may contain:
- a fair-use policy;
- minimum intervals between bookings;
- restrictions on booking several appointments at once;
- limits on appointment length;
- charges for missed or late-cancelled appointments;
- restrictions on home visits;
- exclusions for chronic-condition monitoring;
- different rules for face-to-face and remote appointments.
A provider may investigate unusually frequent use to ensure that the service is clinically appropriate. However, it should not market a plan as unlimited while hiding a small numerical limit in its terms.
Ask the provider directly:
- Is there a maximum number of appointments?
- Can I book whenever there is a clinical concern?
- Are face-to-face appointments unlimited?
- How long is each included appointment?
- Can the provider cancel my membership because I use it frequently?
- What happens if I develop a condition requiring repeated review?
Is membership better for managing a long-term condition?
Continuity can be valuable when someone has several conditions, takes multiple medicines or needs time to discuss complex symptoms. A regular private GP may coordinate test results and specialist letters more consistently than isolated one-off appointments.
However, confirm exactly what chronic-disease management includes. Membership may cover discussions with the GP but not:
- routine blood monitoring;
- specialist medication reviews;
- diabetic eye screening;
- foot checks;
- dressings or injections;
- nurse appointments;
- medicines themselves.
Someone with diabetes, thyroid disease or high blood pressure may therefore pay the subscription plus several hundred pounds a year for tests and other monitoring.
Private GP membership should not interrupt NHS screening or specialist follow-up. For example, private blood tests do not replace NHS diabetic eye screening or national cancer-screening programmes.
For more information about ongoing care costs, see our guide to private diabetes consultation costs.
Can you remain registered with an NHS GP?
Using a private GP does not normally prevent you from remaining registered with your NHS practice. Many people use NHS primary care for routine treatment and pay privately when they want a faster or longer appointment.
The two services do not automatically share a complete record. With your consent, the private GP may send a consultation summary to your NHS practice. It is sensible to ensure that both clinicians know about:
- new diagnoses;
- medicine changes;
- allergies;
- significant test results;
- specialist referrals;
- recent hospital treatment.
Do not assume that an NHS GP must prescribe medication recommended privately. The NHS clinician must be satisfied that prescribing is clinically appropriate and within their competence and local arrangements.
If a medicine requires specialist initiation or monitoring, you may need to continue paying privately unless an NHS service accepts responsibility.
Is private GP membership the same as health insurance?
No. A membership pays for defined primary-care services, while private medical insurance generally covers eligible specialist consultations, investigations and hospital treatment under the policy.
| Feature | GP membership | Private health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Regular monthly payment | Yes | Yes |
| GP consultations | Main purpose | May be included, discounted or excluded |
| Specialist consultations | Usually excluded | May be covered |
| Diagnostic scans | Usually charged separately | May be covered with authorisation |
| Hospital treatment | Not included | May be covered |
| Pre-existing conditions | Consultations may be available | Often restricted or excluded |
| Insurance claim required | No | Usually yes |
Check your existing benefits before paying for a separate membership. Private GP access may already be available through:
- private medical insurance;
- life or critical-illness insurance;
- an employee-assistance programme;
- a workplace health plan;
- a cash plan;
- a bank-account package.
Some included services offer only brief video appointments or a telephone triage service, so compare the actual benefit rather than assuming it replaces a local private GP.
Our guide to outpatient cover on private health insurance explains how consultations, tests and scans may be covered.
Who is likely to benefit from membership?
A private GP subscription may provide reasonable value for someone who:
- expects to use a private GP several times a year;
- wants longer or more predictable appointments;
- values seeing the same doctor;
- has several ongoing health concerns;
- travels frequently and wants remote access;
- needs appointments outside ordinary working hours;
- has children who frequently need clinical advice;
- can comfortably afford both the subscription and additional tests.
It may be poor value if you:
- need a GP only once or twice a year;
- already receive an equivalent service through work or insurance;
- primarily need specialist rather than GP care;
- expect the membership to cover all tests and prescriptions;
- want emergency treatment;
- are choosing a plan mainly because of discounts you are unlikely to use.
Families should compare individual and family plans carefully. A family package may cost less than several separate memberships, but age limits and appointment allowances can differ between adults and children.
How do you choose a safe private GP service?
Check that the doctor is registered with the General Medical Council. The GMC medical register shows whether a doctor holds a licence to practise.
In England, independent providers carrying out regulated medical activities normally need registration with the Care Quality Commission. You can search the provider’s registration and inspection record through the CQC care-services directory. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate healthcare regulators.
Before joining, ask:
- Who owns and operates the service?
- Will appointments be with GPs registered in the UK?
- Can I see the same doctor?
- What happens when a physical examination is needed?
- How are urgent symptoms handled?
- How are my NHS GP and specialists updated?
- How is personal medical information protected?
- What complaints process is available?
- Can fees increase during the contract?
- How can I cancel?
The CQC regulates online primary-care services in England when regulated activities are delivered online. Its guidance on GP and online primary-care services explains the regulatory framework.
A subscription should not be promoted as a replacement for emergency care. Call 999 for life-threatening symptoms and use NHS 111 or the appropriate urgent service when you need help that cannot safely wait.
What should you check before signing up?
Read the full membership agreement, not only the price comparison on the sales page.
Check:
- the monthly and annual price;
- any joining or registration fee;
- the minimum contract period;
- whether the plan renews automatically;
- the cancellation procedure;
- whether unused appointments expire;
- face-to-face appointment availability;
- appointment length;
- fair-use limits;
- prescription and referral charges;
- test and scan prices;
- missed-appointment fees;
- care available outside normal hours;
- whether fees differ by age;
- what happens if your health needs become complex.
Ask the clinic to provide a personalised worked example. If you expect four consultations, two blood-test panels and a prescription during the year, calculate the complete cost under both membership and pay-as-you-go arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
How much does private GP membership cost in the UK?
Many individual plans cost approximately £20 to £100 per month. Remote-only plans may cost less, while premium practices offering extensive access and continuity can charge £100 to £300 per month or more.
How much is a private GP appointment without membership?
A private GP consultation commonly costs £50 to £150. Remote and shorter appointments are often cheaper, while longer face-to-face consultations and London clinics may cost more.
Does private GP membership include unlimited appointments?
Some plans do, but fair-use conditions, appointment-length limits or restrictions on face-to-face bookings may apply. Other memberships include only a fixed number of visits.
Are blood tests included?
Usually not. The GP consultation and interpretation may be covered, but blood collection and laboratory analysis are frequently charged separately.
Are private prescriptions free with membership?
Not necessarily. The provider may waive the fee for writing the prescription, but the pharmacy will normally charge the private price of the medicine.
Can I keep my NHS GP if I join a private practice?
Usually yes. You can remain registered with an NHS practice while using private GP services, although records and treatment plans need to be communicated appropriately.
Will my NHS GP act on private test results?
An NHS GP will consider clinically relevant information, but they are not automatically required to repeat, monitor or prescribe according to a private provider’s recommendation. Responsibility must be agreed safely.
Can a private GP refer me to an NHS specialist?
A private GP can provide clinical information and recommend a referral, but the local NHS pathway may require review or referral through your NHS GP. Procedures vary by service and area.
Does membership cover emergency care?
No. It does not replace 999, A&E or other urgent NHS services. Some providers offer extended-hours advice, but serious or life-threatening symptoms require the appropriate emergency service.
Is an annual health check included?
Some memberships include one, while others offer only a discount. Check which examinations and blood tests are included, as “health check” can describe anything from a brief review to a detailed assessment.
Can I cancel a GP membership at any time?
That depends on the contract. Monthly plans may still have notice periods, and annual subscriptions may not provide a full refund. Check cancellation and automatic-renewal terms before joining.
Is private GP membership worth it?
It can be worthwhile if you expect several appointments and value rapid access or continuity. Pay-as-you-go care is generally more economical for occasional users, especially when tests and medicines remain additional under both options.
