Get answers to your Harrogate Private GP questions:

Harrogate Private GP have recognised that currently the NHS is reducing the availability for home visits and we also recognise that patients value this type of contact with their GP. In the future, we plan to offer standard face to face appointments but want to meet the demand for this type of patient contact initially. Sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed.

You do need to remain registered with your usual GP. This ensures you don’t miss out on screening tests, reviews and offers of immunisation. You can have part of your care with a private GP as you wish providing this is appropriate to do so. We will ensure your GP is kept informed of things and liaise with them directly. One of the aims of Harrogate Private GP is to try and reduce some of the pressure on your NHS GP as well and NOT increase their workload.

It remains within the NHS constitution that if you are entitled to a test on the NHS or investigation a private GP can arrange this for you without requesting your usual NHS GP to do this. Locally, however, this is not currently possible. We are working on this for our patients. At present we can offer private testing at competitive rates direct with laboratories.

We aim to offer the highest standard of clinical care at Harrogate Private GP and as such we follow national guidelines on clinical tests and investigations. You can discuss any questions you have about tests and investigations at your appointment.

We are not able to offer any tests or investigations without an appointment first to discuss your particular health needs.

Should you wish for a test or investigation that is not routinely offered or would not be indicated for your health needs this may be offered privately - however this would require discussion with your private clinician at the time of the request

Private GPs are able to refer into the NHS if a referral would be indicated for that need had you seen an NHS GP. We are currently exploring whether Harrogate Hospital will accept referrals directly or whether we need to liaise with your NHS GP.

If you wish this to be a private referral we are also able to request this and this can be discussed at the time. Obviously most private referrals usually are faster and you can generally choose the clinician you see. If an NHS referral is not appropriate your private GP will discuss this with you and offer a private referral as appropriate.

If you are struggling to find an appointment online please keep checking back. All of our GP’s continue to work in the NHS as we are committed to continue to provide this service and know this is needed to keep our clinicians up to date.

If you would like to see the same doctor on a regular basis we can generally organise this for you. Please discuss this at your appointment or email us in advance and we can work out what would work best for you.

As GPs, we can see anyone of any age, including children. Unfortunately, we are unable to see children for a series of appointments (other than follow up of acute conditions) but can signpost as appropriate. We are also not able to see anyone under the age of 18 years on a home visit without a parent/carer being present (this can be in another room).

We are happy to see older adults for repeated visits to review multiple medical issues. We can see all individuals struggling to see their GP for whatever reason but please ensure you have reviewed the services we offer to ensure we are the right service for you.

At this time, as we are only offering a home visiting service, we cannot carry out any intimate examinations, for example, vaginal examinations. Please bear this in mind when choosing whether we are the right service for you. As Harrogate Private GP develops and grows, we will be able to offer this service in the future.

Whilst we want to try and address all medical problems, working as a private doctor does have certain restrictions. Please check you are happy with the following restrictions before booking an appoiontment:

• Prescription of controlled medications: Harrogate Private GP will NOT prescribe controlled drugs. This includes strong opiates such as zomorph. We do not issue benzodiazepines or schedule 2, 3 and 4 drugs such as pregabalin and above in the majority of cases. This includes replacing NHS scripts. Should you require this we would ask you contact your own GP to discuss your needs. If you are unsure please see information here.

• We will share information with your usual GP. You will need to agree to this if you are using our services. This is paramount to the safe operation of our service and your holistic care. This includes drug and alcohol use and issues that may be pertinent to driving or safeguarding issues. Relevant safeguarding issues will always be referred to safeguarding where appropriate, but this will generally be discussed with you first

At Harrogate Private GP, we really value your feedback as this will help us to continually build and improve the service we offer. We will regularly ask our patients for feedback, including aspects of the service that have been particularly helpful as well as any suggestions for improvements.

At present private GP providers, such as Harrogate Private GP, are not able to access your NHS record. We hope that this will be possible in the future. It is very important for us at HPGP that we provide a safe service, for example, by ensuring we safely prescribe any medications you might need. It would be helpful if you can have access to your GP record via SystmOne online, Airmid or the NHS app and/or have a summary print out from your GP. Having a print out of any medications you take, or any recent hospital letters is also very helpful and we will develop your medical record with us.

We are a new organisation and are keen for feedback to help us develop our services.

In the first instance please contact us through the ‘contact us’ page of the website and we will get back to you. We will follow our complaints procedure: Click here for patient information