Is Harrogate Private GP the Best Choice for You?

Is Harrogate Private GP the right service for you?

Harrogate Private GP provides private general practice care for adults, children and young people. We can help with many common health concerns, ongoing medical problems, medication reviews, annual health checks, preventative care and more complex or holistic care needs.

We offer face-to-face appointments from our clinic at Winters Barn, near Follifoot. Home visits remain available on request where clinically appropriate and subject to availability.

As GPs, we are able to assess patients of all ages, including children and young people.

For children and young people under the age of 18, we will usually ask a parent or appropriate carer to attend with them, or to be available during the appointment. This helps us provide safe care and ensures that practical arrangements, consent and follow-up can be managed appropriately.

We also recognise that teenagers may sometimes wish to speak to a doctor privately. Where appropriate, we will support this while taking into account the young person’s age, understanding, wishes, confidentiality and safeguarding considerations.

We are happy to see older adults, including patients with multiple or ongoing medical problems. Where appropriate, and with the patient’s consent, we can also involve family members or carers to support safe, joined-up care and practical planning.

Harrogate Private GP may be suitable if you would like more time with a GP, continuity where possible, help with a new or ongoing health concern, a medication review, a health check, or support in understanding and planning your care.

There are some situations where Harrogate Private GP may not be the most appropriate service. We are not an emergency or urgent care service. If you need urgent medical help, please use NHS 111, your NHS GP, a local urgent treatment centre, or call 999 in an emergency.

Some problems may require NHS hospital care, specialist referral, emergency assessment, safeguarding input, mental health crisis support, or services that we cannot provide directly. If we feel another service is more appropriate, we will explain this and help signpost you where we can.

We can carry out appropriate examinations in our clinic, including intimate examinations where clinically indicated and where suitable consent and chaperone arrangements are in place. If you think you may need a specific examination or procedure, please contact us before booking so we can confirm whether this is something we can offer.

Working as a private GP service does involve some restrictions. Please consider the following before booking:

Controlled drugs and higher-risk medication

Harrogate Private GP does not routinely prescribe controlled drugs or higher-risk medications. This includes strong opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulant medication, pregabalin, gabapentin and other schedule 2, 3 and 4 controlled drugs in most circumstances.

We do not usually replace NHS prescriptions for controlled drugs or prescribe them as a substitute for care that should be managed by your NHS GP or specialist team. If you require these medications, please contact your NHS GP or usual specialist prescriber.

In exceptional circumstances, prescribing decisions remain at the discretion of the consulting GP and will only be made where clinically appropriate, safe, and within our prescribing policy.

Sharing information with your NHS GP and other services

Good communication is important for safe, joined-up care. With your consent, we can share relevant information with your NHS GP or other healthcare providers to support continuity and reduce the risk of fragmented care.

There may be circumstances where we are required to share information without consent, for example where there is a serious safeguarding concern, a significant risk of harm to you or others, or a legal or professional duty to disclose. This may include information relevant to safeguarding, fitness to drive, medication safety, drug or alcohol use, or other serious clinical or safety concerns.

Where possible and appropriate, we will discuss this with you first.

Please review the services we offer before booking. If you are unsure whether Harrogate Private GP is the right service for your needs, please contact us and we can advise before you arrange an appointment.