FAQs
How are KP GP Services regulated?
All doctors in the UK must be registered with the GMC (General Medical Council), who ensure doctors are qualified and have the necessary training and education to work as a Doctor in the UK. All private clinics who provide medical appointments or treatments in England need to be registered with CQC (Care Quality Commission).
Will seeing a private GP affect my relationship with my NHS GP?
Not at all. The fact that you can be simultaneously registered with both a NHS and Private GP only means you have more options when it comes to your healthcare. Even if you decide that you want to exclusively use our private GP service, we’d encourage you to remain registered with your NHS GP. It just means you can make a choice at any given time as to which option will be most effective and beneficial to you, and it also means you can take advantage of GP out of hours care with the NHS 111 service.
Can a private GP refer me to see a NHS specialist?
While we cannot refer patients to NHS consultants, our GP has access to an extensive and trusted network of private consultants and we can refer you to any of them. However, with your consent we are able to send the test results from your appointment with KPGP to NHS GP’s and specialists and refer you for their services.
Where will my appointment take place?
All private appointments are conducted in our healthcare registered clinics in Canterbury but we also run a video consultation service if you live further afield. All video consultations are provided via Hey Doc, our secure and confidential online platform.
Will seeing a private GP affect my relationship with my NHS GP?
Not at all. The fact that you can be simultaneously registered with both a NHS and Private GP only means you have more options when it comes to your healthcare. Even if you decide that you want to exclusively use our private GP service, we’d encourage you to remain registered with your NHS GP. It just means you can make a choice at any given time as to which option will be most effective and beneficial to you, and it also means you can take advantage of GP out of hours care with the NHS 111 service.
When do you conduct appointments?
Our admin hours run between 08:30 and 17:00 from Monday to Friday. Our clinic hours run from 09:00 to 17:00 every day and we can also provide early morning, evening and weekend consultations to ensure that our services can accommodate your schedule.
Please wait for us to receive your call rather than leaving private messages on our answering machin
Do KPGP issue prescriptions and repeat prescriptions?
At KPGP we can issue private prescriptions including repeat prescriptions if the need for medication is clinically indicated. Our prescriptions do not qualify for the NHS fixed charge (or free) prescriptions service. It should be noted that our usual policy is to not provide schedule 1 or 2 controlled drugs. Occasionally, if there is a clear clinical indication of the need for schedule 3 controlled drugs, we will provide them. However, this is only possible if you have provided us with consent to discuss and share information with NHS services and/or local pharmacies as well as any relevant law enforcement bodies.
Do you provide X-rays, Ultrasound, MRI scans or CT scans?
While GP’s won’t provide these services in the clinic, we can easily arrange appointments with radiology departments in any private UK hospital of your choosing.
How long will it take for me to receive my results?
We pride ourselves on the speed and efficiency of our service. In fact we think this is what sets us apart. This means that we will endeavour to deliver the vast majority of our test results within 48 hours. Of course, some more specialised tests can take longer and we always advise patients that these periods can be lengthened due to delivery times or transportation issues. You will be informed of test results whether they are normal or abnormal but we will only contact you if you have provided us with consent to do so. Additionally a copy of all test results can be emailed or posted to you.
What if my appointment overruns?
If more time is required for your appointment, we will endeavour to make this available to you at the time, or we can re-book you for another consultation. We will upgrade your consultation if needed.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
We have a 24hr cancellation policy, however for extenuating circumstances we are happy to reschedule appointments at your convenience. You’re welcome to make use of the contact us form to contact us via phone.
How do I Pay?
At KPGP we are able to arrange an appointment with one of our doctors for patients who are yet to register with us. However, in these cases we would require a full payment either in advance of, or on the day of your appointment. We accept payments by credit or debit cards, as well as cash payments.
Cheques can be used with the practice’s agreement. All companies will be invoiced separately and payment is expected within 2 weeks of the date of invoice release.
Fees
Do I still need to pay if I have private health insurance?
Most UK based private health insurance schemes will not cover private GP appointments so it’s always best to check with your insurer first. Most insurers do cover specialist referrals sent by private GP’s and some policies also cover the cost of testing and imaging from laboratories. As we are not in direct contact with insurance companies you will be required to pay for your treatment, but we can issue itemised receipts so that you can recover any costs that your insurance does cover.
What is your complaints procedure?
We require that all formal complaints are put in writing. Your complaint should be submitted to the Practice as soon as possible after the event giving rise to the complaint.
Please send any complaints to: 12-17 Upper Bridge Street Canterbury Kent CT1 2NF
Dr Kunal Patel co-ordinates the complaints procedure on behalf of the Practice and will ensure that all relevant details are recorded and will arrange for the complaint to be investigated. We aim to report back to you within 20 days. If this is not possible, the reason for the delay will be explained to you and you will be given a revised date for the completion of the investigation.