Asking what a private referral costs sounds like it should have a 1 line answer, and the reason it usually does not is that people are quietly being quoted for different things. Some clinics price the letter. Some price the appointment and treat the letter as included. Some will not tell you at all until you ring. Here is the whole picture, itemised, using the same figures we publish on our fees page.
The 2 Costs That Are Ours
Getting referred by us involves 2 published charges and no others. The first is the consultation, because a referral has to be based on an assessment. A GP consultation and examination of 30 minutes is £100. The second is the letter itself, which is included in that consultation fee. So a consultation plus a referral letter is £100. The letter is included; there is no separate referral charge on your invoice.
There is no membership fee, no registration fee, no new patient premium and no charge for asking. The price is the same for everybody, and you can read all of it on our fees page before you commit to anything.
The Cost That Is Not Ours
This is the part worth planning for, and it is usually much larger than the referral. Once you are referred, the specialist sets their own fee, and so does any hospital, scan or test that follows. A first consultant appointment in London commonly runs to several hundred pounds, and imaging or procedures are separate again. None of that money comes to us and we have no control over it, which is exactly why we would rather you knew the shape of it in advance. Ask the specialist’s secretary for their fee before you book, and ask whether the quoted figure includes any follow up.
If You Are Claiming On Insurance
Insured patients usually need 2 things rather than 1: a referral from a GP, and authorisation from the insurer, often with a claim number issued before the specialist appointment. The referral fee itself is commonly not covered, because most policies begin at the specialist. It is worth ringing your insurer before the consultation and asking 3 questions. Do you need a named specialist or will an open referral do. Do you require pre authorisation. And is there an excess this year that you have not yet used. Those answers change what the referral should say, so bring them to the appointment.
A Referral Letter Is Not A Medical Report
These get confused, and the difference is several tens of pounds. A referral letter asks a colleague to assess you, and it is included in the consultation fee. A medical report is a longer document prepared for a third party such as an employer, a solicitor, an insurer or an authority, it takes considerably more work, and it is priced as a fixed package. A medical letter written after an assessment is £250, and a longer housing support letter is £500. If somebody has asked you for paperwork, it is worth checking which of the 2 they actually need before you pay for the wrong one.
Why We Publish All Of This
Most people ask what care costs at the worst possible moment, when they are unwell or worried and least able to weigh the answer. Publishing every figure means you can decide calmly, compare us against anyone else, and check your invoice against a price you already knew. It also holds us to it, because a published price cannot quietly become a different price at the door.
When A Referral Is Not What You Need
Paying for a referral is the wrong move if the problem needs attention today. If you have chest pain, severe breathlessness, weakness down 1 side, confusion, a first seizure or heavy bleeding, call 999 rather than arranging anything. If you are unwell and unsure, NHS 111 is free, available at any hour, and will get you to the right place faster than any letter. Equally, some problems are managed perfectly well in general practice without a specialist at all, and if that is the case we will tell you so and you will not have paid for a letter you did not need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the referral letter included in the consultation fee?
No. The consultation and the letter are charged separately and both are published, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Do I pay if you decide a referral is not appropriate?
You pay for the consultation, because the assessment is the work. You are not charged for a letter that is not issued.
Can I have an open referral rather than a named specialist?
Yes, and many insurers prefer it. Tell us at the consultation which your policy requires.
Will you tell me what the specialist charges?
We cannot, because it is their fee and it varies. Ask their secretary directly before booking.
Where can I see every price?
On our fees page, linked above. If a service is not listed, we tell you the cost before we proceed, never after.
Know the cost before you commit. GP consultation and examination 30 minutes £100, referral letter after a consultation included in the consultation fee, medical letter after an assessment £250, housing support letter £500. Every figure is on our fees page. Call 020 8882 8088. In an emergency call 999. Subject to availability.
Written by Dr Mitesh Parmar, MBBS MRCGP, GP and founder of Clinique Alpa, 466 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London N13 5PA. This article is general information, not personal medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For NHS advice call 111 or visit nhs.uk.