In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) plays a vital role in providing access to essential healthcare and treatment for a wide variety of ailments. While the NHS strives to deliver quality care, recent years have seen the system face increased strain. This has resulted in lengthy waitlists for appointments across the nation.
Recent data revealed that 65,239 individuals across Leicestershire are currently waiting more than 18 weeks for their NHS appointments. Additionally, 14,000 individuals in the same area are also facing a wait of over 28 days for an NHS GP appointment*.
In this blog post, we delve into this data in more detail to see how the current waiting times are affecting Leicestershire services specifically, and how a private medical centre can alleviate some of the pressures on the NHS by offering an alternative option for patients seeking medical care.
GP waiting times across England
In May 2023, NHS England reported over 13 million GP appointments were booked. Among these appointments, 56.5% were attended on the same day they were booked, while another 14.3% were promptly seen within seven days of booking.
| GP Appointment Type | Number of appointments by time between Booking and Appointment |
| Same Day | 7 million |
| 1 Day | 989,914 |
| 2 to 7 Days | 2 million |
| 8 to 14 Days | 1 million |
| 15 to 21 Days | 743,153 |
| 22 to 28 Days | 492,157 |
| Over 28 Days | 423,619 |
This data highlights a concentrated effort by the NHS to minimise waiting times and continue to prioritise patient care, with only 3.2% of appointments waiting over 28 days after booking.
At the same time, Private GP appointments can offer an additional layer of support to the healthcare system, enhancing accessibility with more flexible booking times and longer appointments with chosen GPs. This alleviates the strain on public services and contributes to a more efficient healthcare system.
Which services have the longest wait time across Leicestershire?
The data collected, obtained by an NHS waiting list tracker, highlights the number of people waiting for more than 18 weeks for various healthcare services across England. Through this research, we have identified the four services across Leicestershire which are experiencing the greatest number of patients waiting.
Gynaecology
Our research has found that across Leicestershire, Gynaecology services have approximately 7,372 people in total waiting more than 18 weeks.
| Area | Number of people waiting more than 18 weeks |
| NHS Leicester City | 2,911 |
| NHS West Leicestershire | 2,449 |
| NHS East Leicestershire and Rutland | 2,012 |
Gynaecology services include a wide variety of women’s health concerns, including pregnancy, fertility, menstruation, contraception, and menopause. With this in mind, private medical centres can be a valuable option for patients who are looking for more prompt and flexible consultations or screenings.
Gastroenterology
For Gastroenterology appointments, which focus on disorders in the digestive system, our research has identified approximately 7,525 people in total waiting more than 18 weeks for an appointment.
| Area | Number of people waiting more than 18 weeks |
| NHS Leicester City | 2,831 |
| NHS West Leicestershire | 2,520 |
| NHS East Leicestershire and Rutland | 2,174 |
Trauma and Orthopaedics
As a service looking at diagnosing and treating conditions of the Musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints and muscles, our research has found across Leicestershire, approximately 7,642 people in total have been waiting to secure an appointment.
| Area | Number of people waiting more than 18 weeks |
| NHS Leicester City | 2,038 |
| NHS West Leicestershire | 3,011 |
| NHS East Leicestershire and Rutland | 2,593 |
Ear, Nose, and Throat
Finally, Ear, Nose, and Throat services (ENT), which includes diagnosing a multitude of conditions, have approximately 5,821 patients currently waiting more than 18 weeks across Leicestershire.
| Area | Number of people waiting more than 18 weeks |
| NHS Leicester City | 2,086 |
| NHS West Leicestershire | 1,974 |
| NHS East Leicestershire and Rutland | 1,761 |
GP waiting times across Leicestershire
In Leicestershire, there were approximately 264,000 GP appointments in May. The data reported that 57.6% of GP appointments were seen the same day as booking, while a further 13.0% of appointments were seen within seven days of booking.
| GP Appointment Type | Number of appointments by time between Booking and Appointment |
| Same Day | 151,983 |
| 1 Day | 16,561 |
| 2 to 7 Days | 34,403 |
| 8 to 14 Days | 21,081 |
| 15 to 21 Days | 15,187 |
| 22 to 28 Days | 10,695 |
| Over 28 Days | 13,736 |
This dataset reflects a more positive picture of the NHS waiting times in Leicestershire, where ongoing efforts are focused on minimising waiting times and ensuring that urgent medical needs are promptly addressed.
Within this context, private GP appointments are a valuable option for patients who may have limited availability during standard NHS operating hours or are looking for a medical approach tailored to their preferences.
How do private medical centres support the NHS?
The private healthcare sector complements the NHS efforts to minimise waiting times by offering choice, accessibility, and expertise medical attention tailored to the individual.
Working alongside the NHS, private medical centres help to alleviate the strain on public services by attending to patients with specific needs or preferences, for an overall more efficient healthcare sector. Together, both sectors work to cohesively provide comprehensive and patient-centric healthcare solutions so that individuals can receive the best possible care for their circumstances.
For a patient, the availability of Private GP appointments provides valuable options to those who may prefer the convenience and flexibility of private services or may be looking to have more in-depth, dedicated consultations with their healthcare provider.
What are the benefits of Private Medical Centres?
A private medical centre can offer a range of benefits to an individual. This includes:
- Reduced Waiting Times: Significantly reduced waiting times, with same-day or next-day appointments, and prompt access to specialist healthcare professionals.
- Effective and Comprehensive Care: Personalised and patient-centred approach to healthcare, fostering strong doctor-patient relationships to offer care tailored specifically to your needs and well-being.
- Convenient and Flexible Healthcare: Flexible appointment scheduling and longer consultation timings accommodate patients’ busy lifestyles for minimal disruption to work and personal commitments.
- Specialist Health and Wellness Focus: Swift access to a range of specialists for seamless continuity of care, combined with a holistic approach to healthcare that is dedicated to providing preventative and comprehensive advice and treatments.
Take advantage of shorter waiting times, access to quality healthcare, and dedicated, specialist treatment by booking your Private GP appointment today!
Methodology
To conduct our research for this campaign, we analysed NHS England data using the NHS Waiting Times Tracker (LCP Health Analytics), with the most recent dataset published in April 2023 at the time of writing.
To find the waiting times for departments in specific hospitals, we reviewed the data available at the time of writing for each department on the NHS services website.
*Using NHS England data, we were also able to determine the number of individuals waiting for GP appointments in May 2023.
Common Q&A about Private GP Services
A private GP is a general practitioner who provides medical services outside of the public healthcare system. Patients pay for consultations and treatments directly, often leading to shorter wait times and more personalized care.
Private GPs offer a range of services, including general health check-ups, vaccinations, diagnostics, referrals to specialists, minor procedures, and travel medicine. We also provide wellness programs and health assessments.
Appointments with private GPs can typically be booked online, over the phone, or in person at the clinic. We offer flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend appointments.
We accept health insurance It’s essential to check with our GP practice about the insurance policies and whether we are affiliated with the insurance providers.
We would recommend booking a 30-minute GP consultation for initial consultations which is £120. We also offer 15-minute consultations for £70. Alternatively, if you are interested in longer GP appointments this can also be accommodated.
Yes, private GPs are regulated by national medical boards and must meet specific standards and licensing requirements to practice medicine. They are also expected to adhere to the same medical guidelines as NHS GPs.
Yes, private GPs can prescribe medications just like NHS GPs. They can also provide private prescriptions that can be filled at any pharmacy. Patients should be aware that the cost of medications may not be covered by insurance.
Private GP services typically offer shorter waiting times, longer consultation times, and more personalized care. However, they come at a cost, whereas NHS services are funded by taxes and generally free at the point of use.
Yes, many people seek private GPs for second opinions on diagnoses or treatment plans. This can be especially beneficial if a patient feels uncertain about the advice received from an NHS provider.
Yes, patients can request their medical records from their NHS GP to be transferred to a private GP. This process may require consent and could take some time, so it’s advisable to initiate the transfer before your first appointment with the private GP.