Experienced private GP care that works alongside the NHS
Harrogate Private GP provides experienced, personal GP care with the time to listen and continuity of care.
Our standard face-to-face appointments last 30 minutes, allowing time for a detailed discussion, an appropriate clinical examination and a clear plan tailored to your needs. We also have membership and subscription models for those who value ongoing continuity of care.
Patients can choose from three highly experienced local GPs, who have more than 60 years of clinical experience between them. We place particular value on continuity of care and, wherever possible, give patients the opportunity to see the same doctor over time.
Our CQC-registered clinic at Winters Barn provides a comfortable and discreet setting, with convenient parking and disabled access.
Why patients choose Harrogate Private GP
Patients come to us for many different reasons. Some value:
a 30-minute appointment without feeling rushed;
time to discuss complex or multiple health concerns;
access to an experienced GP;
continuity with a chosen doctor wherever possible;
a detailed review of their medical history and medication;
appropriate clinical examination and, where indicated, investigation;
shared decision-making; and
a clear plan for treatment, referral or follow-up.
Longer appointments can be particularly valuable when symptoms are complex, several concerns may be connected or a patient would simply appreciate more time to understand their options.
Experienced local doctors
Dr Ben Shacklock, Dr Joy Shacklock and Dr Tim Rider have more than 60 years of combined clinical experience across general practice, hospital medicine and community healthcare.
Dr Ben Shacklock and Dr Tim Rider remain NHS GP partners at Leeds Road Surgery and continue to provide NHS care alongside their work at Harrogate Private GP. Dr Joy Shacklock previously worked for many years as an NHS GP partner and continues to work as an NHS GP locum, as well as a specialist safeguarding GP within the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board safeguarding team.
Our doctors bring the knowledge and judgement developed throughout their careers to every consultation at Harrogate Private GP.
Why we established Harrogate Private GP
Modern NHS general practice is under considerable pressure. GPs and general practice teams must balance increasingly complex patient needs with the need to provide appointments for as many people as possible.
We recognised that some patients wanted a different option: more time with their doctor, greater continuity and a more personal approach to their care.
Harrogate Private GP was created to provide that choice. Our aim is not simply to offer a longer appointment, but to use that additional time meaningfully—to listen, assess the wider picture and agree a clear way forward.
How much does an appointment cost?
A standard 30-minute face-to-face GP appointment costs £145.
This includes the consultation, clinical assessment and an agreed plan for your care. If additional services are recommended, such as blood tests or other private investigations, any further charges will be explained wherever possible before you proceed.
Our fees are stated clearly so that you can make an informed decision about your care.
Working alongside the NHS
Harrogate Private GP is a completely separate business from the NHS. Our private appointments are provided separately from our contracted NHS commitments and do not replace or reduce the NHS work we undertake. We receive no funding from the NHS or any other public body.
We strongly support the NHS and believe it should remain available to everyone, free at the point of use. Private GP care provides an additional choice for people who value the time, flexibility and continuity our service offers.
Many patients use a combination of NHS and private healthcare according to their needs and circumstances. Attending Harrogate Private GP does not affect your NHS registration, and you can continue to use your usual NHS GP and other NHS services.
Can a private GP refer me to the NHS?
Where an NHS referral is clinically appropriate and accepted by the relevant NHS service, we can refer a patient into the usual NHS pathway.
A private GP consultation does not provide priority access to NHS-funded treatment. The same eligibility criteria, clinical prioritisation and waiting arrangements apply as they do to other NHS patients.
Alternatively, patients may choose a private referral and fund this themselves or through appropriate private medical insurance.
We will explain the available options so that you can make an informed choice.
Our doctors’ NHS and private roles
Healthcare professionals across the UK have always worked in a variety of different settings—for example, primary and secondary care, NHS and private care, care homes and residential settings. NHS secondary care consultants routinely work in the private sector alongside their NHS roles and have done so for decades. Many NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts also offer private healthcare services.
While the NHS is the largest provider of healthcare in the UK, it is not the only one. Healthcare is increasingly being provided outside the NHS. Many employers now provide access to private healthcare as a benefit to their employees and their families.
Our doctors have collectively spent more than 60 years caring for patients within the NHS and continue to do so. We also provide private healthcare for those who choose to use it and who value the benefits of longer appointments, experienced doctors and greater continuity of care.
Book an appointment
If you would value more time with an experienced GP in a comfortable and discreet setting, you can book a 30-minute face-to-face appointment at Winters Barn.
If you have any questions about our service, please email: