The GPs cashing in on the NHS crisis: Two doctors set up a private clinic within their surgery - allowing patients to be seen on the day for £145 a time
- The surgery allows patients to jump the NHS queue and be seen on the same day
- They can benefit from longer consultations, as well as x-rays and physiotherapy
- But the services are only for those who aren't registered with the NHS surgery
Two GPs have set up a private clinic inside their surgery to offer patients faster appointments at a cost of £145 a time.
It allows patients to jump the NHS queue and be seen that same day- including Saturdays – rather than waiting four weeks.
They can also benefit from longer consultations of either 20 or 40 minutes as well as x-rays, physiotherapy and vaccinations.
The GPs running the clinic in Bournemouth insist services are only available to patients who aren't already registered at the NHS surgery, as this would be breaking the law.
Under the terms set out in their contracts, family doctors are not allowed to offer private services to their own NHS patients as this would create a conflict of interest.
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They are allowed to do private work but only on patients registered at another practice.
Waiting times for the NHS-run Poole Road Medical Practice are currently around four weeks, as is typical around the country.
Patients can alternatively queue-up outside from 8am for the walk-in clinic which runs from 8.30am to 10.20am.
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The doctors run the Dorset Private GP clinic from inside the practice and its website promises 'thorough, efficient and prompt' care.
They would not confirm how they split their time but a spokesman confirmed the NHS surgery would hire locum cover if needed.
Only last month a group of doctors in Oxfordshire announced they were drawing up plans to offer patients private out-of-hours appointments and minor operations.
Dr Prit Buttar, who is in charge, is hoping to set up a private company which would offer evening and weekend consultations as well as vasectomies and mole removals.
But both schemes are representative of a growing anger amongst leading GPs who say they cannot meet the demands of the aging population.
Surgeries are also facing a recruitment crisis with rising numbers of dissatisfied doctors retiring in their 50s and not being replaced by younger trainees.
The Government is not trying to save general practice and now it is on the brink of collapse Dr Tim Alder
GPs claim they aren't being given enough funding from the Government to treat the growing numbers of elderly patients and offer appointments seven days a week.
Dr Alder said the private clinic was the only way he could guarantee his NHS surgery wouldn't be forced to close and warned others would follow suit.
'The Government is not trying to save general practice and now it is on the brink of collapse. But when it's gone, they'll realise how good we have been at blocking access to the hospitals. By then, it will be too late.
'We have to try something different now to make ourselves stronger in anticipation NHS primary care will be even worse.
'Sadly the NHS is no longer prioritising it and we can see a time when traditional GPs are private and the majority of patients are instead seen in clinics based in hospitals like minor A&E departments.'
Dr Alder repeatedly refused to answer questions from the Mail about how he split his time and whether he believed the clinic was ethical.
Fees at the private clinic range from £80 for a 20 minute appointment, £140 for 40 minutes to up to £450 for a health check.
It is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays.
By comparison the NHS surgery only offers appointments between 8.30pm and 6.30 pm Monday to Friday and closes for a one-hour lunch.
One patient at the practice, who did not give their name, said: 'When there aren't enough hours in the day to see NHS patients, how would the time be found to see or speak to private patients?
'He is a good doctor, but should stick with the NHS who trained him and give something back.
'If I need to see a doctor at Poole Road and can't wait the four weeks, I have to come to the walk in clinic in the mornings and queue from 8am.
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