How do I set up a private GP service?

What do you need to start practicing?

As a minimum to start practicing as a private GP and ensuring the services you offer fall within the law you will need:

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1. CQC registration - either independently or via practicing privileges
2. Indemnity - to cover your private consulting

CQC registration

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and social care in England to ensure the quality and safety of care received by users of a service. Any provider who is providing regulated services as defined by the CQC needs to be registered with the CQC in order to practice.

If you are a sole practitioner this will be you and if you are working in a partnership you need to decide who will assume that responsibility. Validation of a CQC application usually takes around 12 weeks and it is likely that the CQC will visit you soon after you register.

Indemnity

To set up a private GP service of any type, you will need to ensure you have indemnity insurance.

Indemnity insurance provides protection and security against any losses or legal liabilities which may arise during your private practice.

The GMC clearly states that you must make sure you have adequate indemnity insurance, and it is a legal requirement for all practitioners registered with UK healthcare regulators to have an indemnity arrangement that gives appropriate cover for their type of practice.

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Further considerations

A best-in-class service will stretch far beyond just being registered and compliant. You will ideally want to set up clinical systems for safe care such as an electronic patient record system and non-clinical systems to manage patient experience such as easy online booking.

You will also want to look in to creating a website, marketing your services and hiring any staff or consultants you need to run your business.