When to see a private GP, and when to call 111 or 999

A cough that won't clear. A rash that keeps coming back. A blood pressure reading that has been bothering you for weeks. You want to see a doctor, ideally today, and you'd rather not wait.

That's exactly what a private GP is for. You don't need a diagnosis before you arrive, or any idea which specialty the problem belongs to. You sit with a doctor, explain what's going on, and leave with a plan.

If you're ready to be seen, book a private GP appointment at 117a Harley Street for £150. We're open seven days a week, and same-day appointments are often available.

When is a private GP the right choice?

When something is wrong now and you'd like a doctor in the room. People come in with a new cough, a rash that won't settle, abdominal pain, joint pain, worries about blood pressure, low mood, sleep trouble, a question about a medicine, or something that has simply been dragging on.

Medical Express Clinic has provided this care at 117a Harley Street since 1984. You see a doctor face to face, and there's no fixed time limit on the consultation, so you don't have to squeeze the story into ten minutes. If an examination would change the plan, it happens there and then.

If blood tests, an ECG or spirometry (a breathing test) would help that day, they can often be done in the same building. Laboratory work goes through UKAS-accredited providers. X-ray, ultrasound, MRI and CT are arranged at partner centres.

Which service fits your situation?

How do I book, and what does it cost?

A private GP consultation costs £150, and a follow-up appointment is £100. There's no fixed time limit on either. You don't need to register. You can book online, which guarantees your appointment time and usually shortens the wait, or walk in during opening hours when there's capacity. Same-day appointments are often available but can't be guaranteed.

We're open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00, including bank holidays.

If the GP writes a prescription or a referral letter during your consultation, there's no separate clinic fee for it. Pharmacy medicines are charged separately. Tests and scans are extra, and we explain those charges before anything goes ahead. Every price is listed on our fees page.

When should I call 999 or go to A&E?

Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency: a suspected heart attack or stroke, severe difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, a seizure, choking or a serious accident. These need ambulance crews and hospital emergency teams, and the NHS page on when to call 999 sets out the full list. If things change while you're on your way to us, stop and call 999.

Calling 999 doesn't always mean an ambulance is sent. You might be told it's safe to make your own way to A&E, and that decision rests with the emergency service. If you're not sure whether something is life-threatening, NHS 111 can help you decide.

When is NHS 111 the better option?

NHS 111 is for symptoms that are urgent but not life-threatening, or for when you're unsure which service you need. You can check your symptoms online or call 111, and trained staff will tell you whether you need A&E, an urgent treatment centre, a pharmacy, or to wait for a GP. For a child under five, NHS advice is to call 111 rather than rely on the online checker alone.

It runs around the clock, which makes it the right call if you're getting worse after we've closed, or can't wait for an appointment. Our weekend hours finish at 14:00, and walk-ins depend on capacity, so for anything getting worse quickly, 111 is the better call.

Should I book a GP or a Health MOT?

A Health MOT is planned screening for when you feel well: a structured look at your risks and bloods, designed to find things early. A GP appointment is for a symptom you have now.

Both happen in the same building and both can include blood tests, so it's easy to mix them up. Ask yourself whether you're coming because something is wrong, or because you'd like a check-up while you feel fine. If you have a cough, a lump, chest pain, a change in bowel habit or anything else bothering you, book the GP. If you feel fine, the MOT is the better use of your time, and our guide to Essential or Advanced MOT helps you pick a tier.

What about visa, employer or seafarer forms?

Visa medicals, employer medicals and seafarer PEME examinations each need the correct form completed. An embassy, a sponsor or a cruise line will only accept the form they named, so bring it and book the appointment that completes it, such as a pre-employment medical if your new employer has asked for one. Reception will point you to the right service, and our visa medical checklist lists what to bring on the day.

If you also have a cough or another symptom, book a GP appointment for that separately. The form answers the office that asked for it, and the GP looks after you.

What else can the GP do for me?

Bring what you have: a medicine list, old letters, a photo of a rash, even a story with gaps in it. The GP takes your history and examines you where it helps, and any tests or imaging follow from there.

A new medicine needs a full consultation. For established medication there's a repeat private prescription service, and a doctor reviews each request. They may approve it, decline it or ask you to come in, and pharmacy charges for the medicine itself are separate either way.

If you need a specialist, the GP can write the referral during your visit. Our GP page lists named consultants, including Dr Hikmat Naoum for gynaecology, Prof Darrel Francis for cardiology and Dr Ahmed Shoka for psychiatry, and our geriatrician is Prof Arshad Rather. How quickly you're then seen depends on the receiving service.

You can ask to see the same GP again. Reception will note your preference, and later visits pick up from the notes already held here when that doctor is available. If you need to be seen sooner, another GP can use those notes.

Your records stay with us unless you ask us to share them with your NHS GP or another provider. There are limited exceptions, for example where the law requires it or to protect someone from serious harm. You can ask for a summary to pass on.

Every doctor's registration can be checked on the GMC register, and doctors working as GPs in NHS services must also be on the GP Register. Independent clinics in England are regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Both are worth checking before you sit down with any doctor.

Can I bring my child?

Children aged 3 months to 15 years are seen at our paediatric GP clinic, which runs on Monday and Wednesday before 14:00, separately from the adult list. Babies under 3 months should be seen by an NHS GP, NHS 111 or A&E.

Related guides: how a private prescription review works and choosing between a children's GP, NHS 111 and A&E.