PRIVATE GP ' S EXPLAINED
Mersey Life talk to Dr James Sowery , Medical Director at VIDA Clinics
Dr James Sowery is a GP who has worked on the Wirral and in Liverpool for over ten years , working in a variety of practices . He joined VIDA Clinics in order to help to develop a GP service that provides high quality , evidence-based care .
Talking to him , he clears up many of my misconceptions about private GPs . As a General Practitioner he hears first-hand , on a regular basis , concerns people have about using GP services away from those provided by the NHS …
Would using a private GP effect my relationship with my own NHS GP ? This is a concern that so many people have . People often feel great loyalty towards their GP . I can understand this , as a General Practitioner we have close relationships with our patients often formed over many years of caring for them and their families . From curing minor ailments to helping them through the most difficult times of their lives . The last thing people want to do is feel like they are betraying their family doctor . When a patient chooses to use a private GP service in addition to what the NHS is providing for them , their NHS GP will not feel betrayed . I can speak for myself as a GP who has worked for the NHS and in the private sector and I know this opinion is shared by my GP colleagues . We genuinely want patients to receive the service which suits them best .
Would seeing a private GP have any negative consequences towards the NHS ? Absolutely not . Quite the opposite in fact . As an NHS GP you are under a significant workload . Every patient that chooses to use a private GP service can help to ease the burden on NHS GPs . There is a misconception that using private medical services takes funding away from the NHS , this is not the case . Funding for NHS GP services is calculated on a per patient basis , which is not affected whatsoever by the provision of private health services .
If I decided to use a private GP service would I still be able to use my NHS GP ? Yes you would . Seeing a private GP has no bearing on the services you receive from the NHS . This is a concern I regularly encounter ; people often feel that it is a choice between the NHS and private GP services , this is not the case . At VIDA Clinics we view ourselves as working in partnership with the NHS . We strive for close working relationships with our colleagues in the NHS .
My understanding is there is no difference between a private and an NHS GP , is this the case ? You are quite right , there is no difference between GPs in the private or public sector . We are the same . Often , we simultaneously work for the NHS and for private healthcare . The difference between using a private and an NHS GP is the service offered by the provider . At VIDA Clinics we pride ourselves on being clinics like no other . We refer to our patients as guests as this best describes the experience they have when they visit one of our clinics . Our ethos is that every life should be lived health positively . Enjoying the process of achieving good health , and not simply the end result of being healthy , is a key part of living health positively . Our belief is that the groundwork for happiness is health . That being healthy is the most fundamental element of living a fulfilled life .
When a VIDA guest uses our GP service , they have as much time as they need , and they can discuss as many ailments as they wish . In my view one of the biggest advantages of seeing a GP in a private setting is that our prescribing is not restricted by NHS provision , with medication prescribed based on the best evidence rather than cost . This helps us to achieve the best results for our patients .
It has been enlightening speaking to you this morning . However , are the GP services offered by VIDA Clinics very expensive ? We feel our GP services represent great value . A 30-minute appointment with me or one of the other GPs in the team costs £ 100 . The feedback we get from our guests is that they feel it is great value for money . We aim to be an inclusive healthcare provider and all our services are priced as competitively as possible .
At VIDA Clinics we are a world away from a typical medical facility , offering everything from GP services , cosmetic surgery and physiotherapy to anti-wrinkle treatment and ultrasound facilities . We have a highly skilled team across multiple locations , ready to assist you with whatever you need . Guests enjoy the time they spend here , while we take time to make your health our priority .
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