How to get a private referral from your GP
Everything you need to know about private referrals. When you need one, what the letter includes, what to do if your NHS GP can't help, and how to get one from us the same day.
ABOUT OUR PRIVATE REFERRAL SERVICE
What is a private referral?
A private referral is a letter from a GP to a private specialist consultant, recommending that they see you for a specific medical concern. It introduces you, summarises your medical history, and gives the consultant the clinical context they need before your first appointment.
What is in a referral letter?
A private referral letter typically includes your details, the symptoms you’re experiencing, any tests already performed, your relevant medical history and current medications, and a clear question for the specialist. Most private consultants, private hospitals and treatment providers ask before booking your first appointment.
Why do you need one?
A GP referral is not always required for private treatment. Many private practitioners and hospitals accept self-referrals if you are self funding your care. However,Insurance is the bit that usually changes things. However, most private health insurance providers require a GP referral to fund any treatment.
Referral or self-referral?
With self-referral, you contact the specialist consultant directly, provide your own history, and pay or claim through your insurance yourself. With a GP referral, your GP writes the letter, sends it on your behalf, and your insurer typically funds the consultation. The referral route gives you medical continuity. The self-referral route gives you speed. For complex or insurance-funded private care, the referral route is almost always the right call.
Asking your NHS GP
If you have a regular NHS GP, you can ask them to refer you privately.
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Book a routine slot with your usual NHS GP. Many surgery websites now let you book online, and your GP can book it for you if you call them.
Before an appointment
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Be straightforward. Tell your GP what concern you're being seen for, that you'd like to be referred to a specific private specialist, and why. Your GP will recommend the right type of specialist consultant based on your symptoms, and may suggest one they've referred to before. If you already have a private consultant in mind, name them.
Explain you'd like to be referred privately.
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Once your GP agrees, they can write the letter at your appointment or shortly afterwards. Some surgeries handle private referrals as part of normal NHS work and won't charge you. Others treat referral letters as a private service and may charge a small fee (typically £20 to £40). They can email the letter directly to your chosen consultant, post it to the private hospital, or hand it to you to take along yourself.
After your appointment
What if your GP can't help?
Not every NHS GP can or will write a private referral letter, and that's where many patients get stuck. The good news is you have other options, and the route many of our patients take is the simplest.
Common reasons a GP says no.
Common reasons your NHS GP might decline a private referral request:
Their surgery has a policy of not writing private referrals.
They don't know or trust the consultant you're asking for.
They don't feel a specialist referral is clinically warranted.
They don't have time to write the letter promptly.
The condition falls outside their NHS scope of work.
None of these means you can't get a referral. They mean you'll need to find another GP, one whose service includes writing the letter.
A private GP can write the same letter.
A private GP can write the same private referral letter that your NHS GP would. The letter is clinically and legally equivalent. Consultants, private hospitals and private healthcare insurance providers accept referrals from a private GP without issue, provided the GP is GMC-registered.
This is the route many of our local patients choose. They book a private consultation with our team, discuss the medical concern in detail and leave with a referral letter to the specialist of their choice, often the same day.
Getting your referral from WMS.
At our medical practice on Church Road, our team of private GPs sees patients across south-west London for exactly this purpose. A focused consultation, a thorough clinical assessment, and a detailed written private referral letter to take to your chosen consultant, private hospital or private healthcare provider.
How our referral service works.
Three steps:
Book a consultation with one of our private GPs, online or by phone.
Discuss your symptoms and the specialist you'd like to see. We can recommend a consultant if you don't have one in mind
Following your appointment your letter will be written and emailed over to you within 24 hours, for you to share with your consultant or private insurer.
Choosing your private consultant.
If you'd like our help choosing the right private consultant for your condition, we're glad to make a recommendation. We have direct relationships with private consultants and hospitals locally and across London in all specialies, including cardiology, dermatology, gynaecology, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, urology, paediatrics, and most other specialities. We'll suggest a name we trust, or write to whoever you've found locally.
Book a private consultation.
A Standard Consultation (20 minutes, £110) is usually enough time to write a referral letter for a clear, single concern. For complex cases, multiple concerns, or when investigations should come first, an Extended Consultation (40 minutes, £195) provides the space to do it properly. Most private health insurance providers cover both the consultation and the referral letter, and most major UK insurers recognise us. Or ring our reception team on 020 8153 4239 if you'd like to talk it through first. Wimbledon Medical Service, 39 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5DQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
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With your NHS GP, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how busy your surgery is. With a private GP it's usually the same day.
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NHS GPs may write the letter for free as part of normal practice or charge a small admin fee (typically £20 to £40). A private GP consultation, which includes the time, examination and the referral letter, starts at £110 with us.
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Often not, but some private consultants and private hospitals may still ask for one. A letter also gives the specialist proper clinical context, which usually makes your first appointment more productive.
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Yes, in most cases - but you may want to check with them. Most private health insurance providers require a GP referral before they'll fund a specialist consultation, and they typically cover the cost of the GP consultation too. Check with your insurer first to confirm cover.