More than half of Brits (53%) would consider seeing a private GP in the future, according to a poll commissioned by Spire Healthcare.
A third (32%) of the 2,000 respondents who took part in the Focaldata survey said they had used a private GP in the past three years, with six in 10 having booked more than one private appointment in this period.
Spire said the survey findings corresponded with the increased level of demand it was witnessing for its own GP services.
In its latest financial results, published earlier this month, the provider reported a 46% growth in private GP revenues, after a 39% increase in GP appointments.
The survey also showed the majority of respondents (54%) found it difficult to book a face-to-face appointment with an NHS GP; almost half (45%) struggled to get a telephone appointment; and for patients who needed an appointment in the past six months, just under a quarter (24%) were unable to book one.
And the survey also found that almost three quarters of Britons (70%) were worried about accessing an NHS GP if needed.
Half (49%) of respondents said they would consider seeing a private GP to relieve the burden on the NHS while 72% said the opportunity to pick and choose between using an NHS or a private GP depending on the medical concern would be appealing.
When asked about the reasons for considering private GP services, the speed of being seen (52%), ease of booking appointments (37%) and the ability to book face-to-face appointments (37%) came out on top.
Which features would attract you most to the idea of using a private GP, should you ever need to consider it? Please select up to three.
Dr Jeremy Cohen, a GP who practises within the NHS and for Spire, said: “Most patients seen at Spire Healthcare seem to prefer to be seen privately because of both the speed of access and longer appointment time. During the pandemic I had contact with lots of patients who were simply desperate to speak with a doctor but whose concerns were not deemed urgent.
“Post-pandemic, I now see a broad range of private patients, some of whom require on-going care for chronic illnesses, some who come for a one-off problem, and others who come for a single consultation but then stay for the duration of their treatment.
“Meanwhile, the most significant benefit of private care, in my opinion, is the time available to discuss an individual’s medical concerns and my recommendations in depth, which often isn’t achievable with the duration of an NHS GP appointment, especially if it is about a complex issue.”
