News & Insights
Practical insights from private GPs, checked and kept up to date, plus dated posts from our archive. New writing goes out first in The Beat.
Insights
Practical views from private GPs on running a practice. We check these against current guidance and show when each was last updated.
- Systems
Picking an electronic health record system
What system should you use to manage your practice?
- Getting started
Starting off in private practice – I’m a GP…but what next!?
Are you a trained GP considered work as a private GP? We explore what you need to get started.
- Tips
What is the best way of sending private prescriptions to patients?
As a private GP, how should you issue your private prescriptions?
- Tips
How do private GPs store their consultation notes?
All private GPs should be storing their consultation notes in an electronic format.
- Tips
Does Private Medical Insurance (PMI) cover private GPs fees?
In the UK medical insurance is provides the reassurance that if you need specialist care, you will be covered.
- Insights
View from a private GP: How should independent GPs communicate with NHS GPs?
Communication between private GPs and NHS GPs is fundamental to good care. But how is this achieved?
- Private vs NHS
Why are private GPs so expensive compared to NHS primary case?
Private GP appointments range in price from ~£50 for 15 min video services, to £200+ for 30 min services delivered from exclusive offices in London.
- Tips
What is the best private GP record system?
The most used GP record system in the UK is EMIS Web. EMIS is used by over 60% of GPs nationally.
- Tips
Online booking: Time saving genius or more hassle than it's worth?
Is online booking for healthcare a time save genius, or will it end up being more hassle than it’s worth?
- Tips
Three tips for optimising private practice billing
Optimise your private practice billing to make you private general practice run more efficiently.
- Tips
Three tips for gathering and actioning patient feedback
We’ve put together our top tips to help gather, collate and act on patient feedback within the private sector.
- CQC
Five tips for passing your CQC inspection
See out top tips to help you prepare for and excel in your next CQC inspection.
From the archive
Dated posts, kept for reference. Details may have changed since they were written.
- On the ground
Life on the ground #4: A patient is verbally abusing my front-desk staff. How do I handle this?
A patient charged for a missed appointment verbally abuses reception staff, disrupting consultations. Act and risk losing a valued family, or do nothing and appear to tolerate abuse of staff?
- On the ground
Life on the ground #3: Why are we seeing this patient?
A patient arrives 25 minutes late, refuses other slots and abuses staff. An off-duty clinician steps in, until the patient overhears an administrator's insult. What more could the practice have done?
- On the ground
Life on the ground #2: Why are we seeing this patient?
A real story from private general practice: a late, abusive patient, an off-duty clinician who steps in, and a remark overheard from the back office. What would you do?
- On the ground
Life on the ground #1: Who pays for vomit damage?
A patient vomits in a shared area of the building before a non-urgent appointment. The practice pays for professional cleaning and asks the patient to cover it. The patient refuses and complains. What should happen?
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