Can I practice as a private GP from any residential or commercial premises?

Choosing where to practice from

Choosing where you will see patients as a private GP is a fundamental decision when setting up your private practice.

There are several options you can consider:

Practicing from your home

It is a popular option for private GPs to consult from their home. This has benefits in reducing travel cost and time, eliminates the cost of rent and can bring some tax relief for household bills (heating, lighting, décor).

Practicing from home can be disruptive, especially if you live with others and you need to be prepared to have patients coming into your home.  

You need to ensure you have the set up required to carry out any activities you need to perform during a consultation and give patients reassurance that clinical and confidentiality standards are being met.

‍

Practicing from a purpose-built surgery

Practicing from a purpose-built private GP surgery is a great way to see patients.

This can either be in the form of setting up and owning the surgery yourself or renting a room in a surgery owned by another private GP.  

This can be costly but is often preferred by patients as they can visit a location which is built for their needs and has all the processes and equipment in place to deliver the service they require.

Practicing from a consulting room in a private hospital

Private hospitals often have consulting rooms which you can rent to deliver your private practice from.

Benefits of using this location include a fully furnished room, access to the hospital staff (such as nurses and receptionists), access to hospital equipment and other facilities such as pathology and radiology.  

Prices of renting consultation rooms in a private hospital will vary depending on location and you will need to seek practicing privileges from the hospital in order to work here.