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How To Find The Right Private GP For You And Your Family
Family comes first, and if you or a close relative falls ill, you’ll likely be keen to seek immediate treatment. The mad scramble to find a local GP can be avoided if you plan in advance, and with many private healthcare providers popping up left, right and centre, competition is fierce. Whether you’ve just moved into the local area and need to sign up with a new GP in tandem, or your previous surgery lacked a particular service or medical offering, and you’re keen to explore options, Duality Health re here to guide you through the do’s and don’ts when sourcing a private medical practice for yourself and others. A private doctor can fulfil a personal and individual service to you in 2023, so read ahead!
Simply put, GPs (general practitioners) are medical professionals with general practice training. This is referred to as family medicine in some nations, though rarely so in The United Kingdom. Your GP will likely possess a depth of knowledge, and the crucial decision-making abilities to determine how to handle any health problems you may experience over the course of your lifetime. Your long-term general practitioner can give you the care that is most appropriate for you, because they get to know you, your family, and your community over a period of time.
Typically the first person you will contact when you have a health problem, a GP will plan your healthcare, and often act quickly in the event of an emergency. It’s a good idea to stick with a professional once you’ve found one who is well-suited to you, so they can get to know your medical requirements and specific needs. Medical staff can consider factors including your age, disability, sex, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Based out of 9 Monaghan Street, Newry, our practice is conveniently located and easy to access via the high street. Serving locals as well as visitors from the surrounding area, we’re happy to cater for an array of returning and first-time patients. Naturally, you’ll be keen to source a practice which is close to your geographical location (be it within walking distance or a short drive away) and this can be verified by a quick Google search or checking in with a local directory. Alternatively, you may want to consult friends and family, who may well already be signed up with a local GP.
Long callback wait times are frequently reported as a problem when dealing with GP services in Northern Ireland, though at Duality Health, we work to remove this element of uncertainty from unplanned care.Your local NHS after-hours service are able to offer an alternative in the form of our private urgent care facility. After initially detailing your health concerns, confirm your appointment and arrive at the scheduled time for your face-to-face assessment. This is practical as it means you won’t have to wait for a call or have yourself assessed for suitability.
It is important to note that if you require an emergency appointment, you will more often than not be offered one as quickly as possible, with the caveat that you may be asked to wait for a doctor to call you back. You can go to a doctor’s surgery in person to ask for an appointment, but they won’t usually be able to see you straight away. At our surgery, we always have daytime, evening, and weekend availability for our urgent GP appointments, though as with any NHS patient, you will be evaluated for priority in A&E based on your clinical requirements.
Dedicated reviews can often be consulted to assess the quality of a particular healthcare provider, although as is the case with anything you find on the internet, you should take this information with a pinch of salt. Platforms such as TrustPilot are a great resource to look at, offering an unbiased and impartial overview of local organisations. This is often a more balanced way to gain an overview of your local GP, whose website may contain a collection of reviews which have been specifically cherry-picked from such websites. Some patients may be so satisfied with their service that they leave a detailed testimonial.
In terms of affordability, there is probably quite a difference in private GP charges depending on where you live. The expense will vary for example if there’s a lot of competition within a particular location for customers, or if there’s a large demand for private care. You can expect to spend anywhere from £50 to £200 for a regular appointment within some practices, depending largely on the length of your consultation and any additional services or procedures. At Duality Health, we’re transparent in terms of pricing, and our private GP appointments come in 15-minute, 30-minute, or 45-minute slots. Following your medical evaluation and diagnosis, we can develop a treatment strategy that benefits you too.
Open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday, we’re available to regular patients into the early evening, understanding that you have no control over when you or a loved one may take a turn for the worse. Catering for individuals out-of-hours too, you can bypass NHS Surgery waiting times with urgent care appointments from just £60. Video consultations give patients extra flexibility and privacy, whereas we trust our patients to make the right calls. We appreciate your judgement – and will facilitate access to private urgent care however we can.
Specialist services are an essential for some patients with complex needs, and a leading healthcare provider will come equipped with the specific equipment, medical insights and background to ensure you’re looked after. At Duality Health, we continue to cater for health issues ranging from:
- Sore throat, sinusitis, ear pain, hayfever,
- Coughs,breathing difficulties, lung issues
- Urinary infections – cystitis or kidney infections
- Childhood Illness
- Abdominal pain, diarrhoea or vomiting
- Blood pressure concerns
Our highly qualified clinicians always offer a confidential service, which will take place in a laid-back, welcoming, and secure setting. By offering a variety of GP services to the people of Northern Ireland, we can provide you with peace of mind regardless of the issue you’re dealing with.
At Duality Health, we’e pleased to offer a variety of services for individuals, families, and organisations in need of after-hours care, in-depth GP consultations, surgical procedures, or custom medical exams. Our highly trained clinicians always provide a confidential service in a relaxed, welcoming, and secure environment. Regardless of the medical problems you’re facing, we can give you peace of mind, providing a range of GP services to not only you and your loved ones, but people in need throughout Northern Ireland. If you can’t call us right now, our dependable online booking system and attentive administrative staff enable you to receive thorough medical advice and treatment in a timely manner, regardless of circumstance.
Call Duality Health at 028 3083 3666 to learn more about our extensive selection of clinical services, each of which links to a number of appointment options. If you are experiencing health issues, our team of skilled clinicians will be happy to hear about your worries, evaluate conditions, and set up any necessary tests. In Newry and beyond, we offer unmatched patient care and a shining commitment to customer service.