I have been reflecting on our last few months and some of the reasons why patients are coming to see us here in our clinic. There are some strong trends to the feedback we have been getting so far.
Fast Access
One of the most significant benefits of a Private GP clinic is fast access to appointments. It is well known that NHS GP surgeries are under a great deal of pressure. It can be difficult to even get through on the phone in the morning, and consequently, waiting times for appointments can be long. Our clients are aware that statistics show increasing delays in diagnosing serious illnesses. Our clients have found online booking, prompt in-person phone answering, and same-day appointments five days a week refreshing.
Flexibility
Our GPs all like to think outside the box and find solutions. Due to time pressures, NHS GPs struggle to provide non-core services for their patients. We are lucky enough to have more capacity to spend time finding solutions for awkward needs that our patients have had, such as sports medicals, visas, and pre-employment assessments.
Continuity of care
Continuity of care is an essential cornerstone to effective general practice and it leads to a better experience for both the doctor and our patients. The job satisfaction of our colleagues is hugely important to us and our business is structured to engender retention of our people. This means we have a very stable cohort of colleagues who feel invested in our service ensuring you will be able to grow that supportive relationship with your preferred doctor.
More Time
One of the other cornerstones of health care is having enough time. As our practice has smaller patient loads, we are able to spend more time with each patient. This means that our doctors can thoroughly assess your health, provide tailored advice, and offer a more comprehensive healthcare experience.
Fast and Considered Onward Referrals to Specialists
Our GPs have access to a network of trusted specialists, and we work hard to ensure that patients receive the care they need as quickly as possible. We are not limited to any one specialist provider so we are unfettered in finding you the best person for your problem. Our patients have been enjoying our flexible approach to finding the right person for them.
Personalised Holistic Care
As a private GP clinic, we are better able to provide effective health screening and health promotion. Our Doctors are all fully qualified and highly experienced GP’s and can provide all of the diagnostic and medical management skills that you would expect. What seems to set us apart is that we are very proactive with health promotion and early detection of illness through appropriate personalised screening. Many patients have found random health screening of limited benefit, our individualised approach to screening with an emphasis on face to face doctor time is popular and sets us apart from our competitors.
Confidentiality and working with the NHS
In private general practice, your confidentiality is totally protected. We have found that there are some situations where our patients have wanted tests or a second opinion outside of the NHS. We are happy to share information with your GP only if you request it. We place great emphasis at Edinburgh GP on owning our clients’ results so that we do not “dump” work onto the already overworked NHS.