Health warning on private GPs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.PRIVATE DIAL-A-DOCTOR services, which offer home visits for a fee, are costly, unregulated and do not guarantee treatment from a trained GP, a report says today.
The visiting services have sprung up in central London in recent years, but patients who call them out may end up paying pounds 50 to pounds 70 a time. In addition, the doctor who visits may have no specialised training as a GP.
The services use a mix of GPs and hospital doctors - and if things go wrong patients will not have the same protection as if they were treated on the NHS, according to Health Which?, published by the Consumers' Association.
The magazine identified nine private visiting services that advertised in the Yellow Pages in London. There is growing commercial interest in the GP service from private companies, because of the NHS's shortcoming in providing quick access and convenient appointments, and the number of doctors involved is expected to rise. Of 2,000 people surveyed by the magazine, a third said they would consider paying a private doctor to visit them.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments