How do I find a doctor? – If you need a certain treatment, on the NHS you need to ask your GP to refer you to a consultant. For the private option, you get to choose your own. You can make searches online, such as ‘private doctors near me’. If you search ‘doctors near me’, NHS doctors will not appear, only private ones. You can also search on Findoc

When will my appointment be? – for NHS appointments you may have to join a long waiting list for your treatment. If you choose private healthcare, the wait should be much shorter

Can I choose when my appointment is? – with the NHS, you generally have to accept the appointment time you’re given. Private healthcare appointments are much more flexible

Can I choose who will treat me? – private healthcare allows you to choose exactly which doctor will be treating you. With the NHS, you’re allocated a doctor, usually one local to you.

Who will be treating you? – if you choose the private option, the doctor you select will be the one that treats you, even if you select an experienced consultant. On the NHS, it is unlikely to be a consultant who will treat you, rather a member of their team