A Private GP is a GP that is practicing outside of the NHS system. Within Scotland, they are subject to regulation by Health Improvement Scotland. ​ All doctors practicing within the UK are licensed by the General Medical Council. They all undergo annual appraisal and 5 yearly revalidation. ​ All doctors practicing privately at The Heriot Clinic are also NHS doctors. They are all fully qualified and have a significant amount of post qualification experience. They all have a full GMC license to practice. They have all been subject to full PVG checking to ensure their suitability to care for vulnerable groups. They all carry full indemnity insurance for their private practice. ​ The Heriot Clinic is licensed and regulated by Health Improvement Scotland. It is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

There are many reasons for consulting with a private GP. For some it will be convenience. For others, it will be ease of access. For others, it will be to enable adequate time to have your concerns addressed. For many, it will be the opportunity for continuity of care. To be seen and known by a doctor, and to see them each time that you visit. At The Heriot Clinic, we recognise all of these very valid reasons for consulting with a private GP. Our Clinic has been set up to meet these needs.

Private GPs at The Heriot Clinic are fully qualified, experienced doctors. They have experience in all aspects primary healthcare. Where we feel that your care would be better managed by another provider or within the NHS system, we will tell you this.

The Heriot Clinic does not provide aesthetic or surgical treatments. ​ The Heriot Clinic does not store or prescribe controlled drugs such as opioids or gabapentinoids. ​ The Heriot Clinic is not a suitable service for: addiction problems requiring substitute prescribing, severe mental health problems such as uncontrolled bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, maternity or obstetric care. These problems are always better addressed by other services.

All of the GPs at The Heriot Clinic are also experienced NHS GPs. The main advantages of using our Clinic are: availability of appointments, duration of appointments and access to the same doctor. The Clinic is able to achieve this through charging patients for their care. This allows us to match our resources to the number of patients. NHS practices are not able to do this.

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Another advantage of using The Clinic is access to medications, investigations and specialists. NHS practices are restricted in the medications they can prescribe and the indications they can prescribe them for. In many instances, this is for very good, evidence based, clinical reasons. Cost is also a factor. Where you are paying for your own medications, provided they are suitable for your condition, there is more flexibility. Investigations are rationed in the NHS. NHS GP’s have strict referral criteria to fulfil to be allowed to request certain tests, some they cannot order at all. Private clinics can refer self funding patients for a wider variety of investigations.

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Both an NHS GP and Private GP can refer you to a Private Specialist or to a Private Specialist Clinic.

The Heriot Clinic is an appointment based, in-hours service. ​ We do not have any drop-in or out of hours facilities. ​ Where we have availability on a given day we would, of course, be delighted to assist you with a more acute problem. The best way to access this would be to book an available appointment through our website. Outside of appointments and clinic hours, urgent care can be accessed through your NHS GP, NHS 111 and 999 services and A&E.

No, unfortunately that is not possible at this time. The Heriot Clinic is a purely appointment based service. This is to enable us to give patients our full attention whilst they are with us. That said, we will often have short notice availability at the clinic. The best way to access that is to book an appointment through our website.

No. Unfortunately Private GP services are not covered by health insurance at this time. The Heriot Clinic is self funded healthcare from an itemised menu of services.

Registration is easy at The Heriot Clinic. Simply book an appointment. When you book an appointment with us for the first time, we will ask you to complete our New Patient Registration Form.

Emphatically, No!

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All patients using The Heriot Clinic are advised to continue their NHS GP registration.

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This is for several reasons:

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Only your NHS GP has the right to hold your long term NHS record, very often this will date back to your birth. Private clinics are not presently allowed to hold your main NHS record.

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Your NHS record is the central register of certain important things for example your vaccination history or any screening history.

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Should you need emergency or out of hours care, your NHS GP records can be accessed by NHS 24, the Unscheduled Care Service and A&E.

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The Heriot Clinic should be regarded as a valuable adjunct to the NHS.

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Some patients will wish for all their healthcare to be undertaken by The Clinic. Where this is possible, we will endeavour to facilitate this wish. We would still encourage these patients to maintain their NHS GP registration as well.

The very best way to book an appointment at the clinic is by following the link on our website. ​ This will allow you to select the appointment time that you need. ​ This will enable you to complete a registration form if it is your first time visiting the clinic.

Following your use of The Heriot Clinic, you will receive an emailed invoice for your appointment. This will include any additional consultation time that has been used as well as the fee for any investigations and referrals that have been made.

Appointment cancellations with less that 24hrs notice will attract an invoice for the cost of the booked appointment.