Private General Practitioners

Whether you want a second opinion or time to sit down and really discuss a health concern, our experienced and friendly  private General Practitioners can spend time with you to help you get the answers you need.

Private General Practitioners Appointments In West Berkshire

At Total Health West Berkshire we now offer face-to-face appointments with our easy access to private General Practitioners services.

These appointments are designed to help you access a General Practitioner when you need it and are able to offer advice and treatment for a wide range of conditions. Please have a look through this page to see if this is the right service for you.

We offer the following appointment types:

30 Minute Initial Consultation Appointment – £120

If you have not seen one of our GPs at Total Health West Berkshire then this is the appointment you will need to book.

20 Minute Appointment – £100

This appointment is longer than appointments in the NHS and will give the GP time to discuss one condition in detail.

A cozy private doctors room features two gray armchairs and a sideboard equipped with a coffee maker, glasses, and water dispenser. A large wall clock, framed prints, and rustic wooden beams add charm. Purple curtains partially cover the windows, creating a warm atmosphere suitable for private doctors.

30 Minute Extended Appointment – £120 

This appointment is ideal if you have a complex problem or have more than one problem to discuss the extra time in this appointment.

Please note we cannot offer a service for medical emergencies or out-of-hours care. If you think you have a medical emergency phone your NHS GP, dial 111 or 999. We do not routinely offer ongoing monitoring of long–term conditions where the NHS may be a more appropriate provider of this chronic disease management service.

A clean, well-lit examination room features a desk with two chairs, medical diagrams on the wall, and an adjustable examination table. The setting is typical for a private doctor’s office. A row of books lines the window ledge, with a small clock visible above. The floor is wooden.

*Any further investigations that you may require during or after your appointment, such as blood tests, scans, ECGs, etc are not included in the cost of your appointment. Before any such tests are completed the GP will discuss with you why they think these tests should be carried out and the costs associated with them..

What is included in your consultation

In addition to the consultation with our General Practitioner, your appointment will also include where appropriate

  • Providing a referral to a consultant
  • Recommending and referring you for further investigations such as scans, x-rays, or blood tests.*.

You will be provided with an outcome letter with information about your appointment and with your consent a copy of this will be sent to your NHS General Practitioner.

A private doctor in a white coat sits at a desk across from a patient. A stethoscope, tablet, and laptop are on the desk as they engage in discussion within the bright office setting.

Private General Practitioners Appointments In West Berkshire

What is not included in your consultation:

  • 24-hour health coverage or emergency service.
  • DVLA, visa, or other specific medical checks (these can be arranged under a different appointment).
  • Repeat medications, except where we have initiated treatment.
  • Minor surgery.
  • Ongoing monitoring of long–term conditions where the NHS may be a more appropriate provider of this chronic disease management service.
  • To be treated for a reaction to any medication (this would be deemed an emergency).

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I see the General Practitioner about?

We are here to discuss any concerns you might have about your health, so arrange to see us if you’re worried about any of the conditions listed. It may be you have recently been diagnosed with a condition and want a second opinion or more information about it, or you may just want to discuss something you do not want to bother your own General Practitioner about. Or perhaps you are finding it difficult to get a face-to-face appointment with your own GP.

  • Abdominal aches and pains
  • Allergies
  • Back problems
  • Blood pressure
  • Bowel problems
  • Concerns about Cholesterol
  • Earache, sore throat, or swallowing problems
  • Eye problems
  • General aches and pains
  • General health concerns
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Joint pains and possible arthritis
  • Men’s Health
  • Persistent cough
  • Skin complaints including cysts, acne, and dermatitis
  • Stress / Anxiety
  • Urinary problems
  • Women’s Health

Please note we cannot offer a service for medical emergencies. If you think you have a medical emergency phone your NHS GP, dial 111 or 999.

What happens in a consultation?

During the appointment a detailed history of the presenting complaint and background medical history will be taken, followed by an examination. A copy of your NHS General Practitioner’s records is not usually necessary;  but we will send you a health questionnaire to complete before the appointment. Our GP may suggest a range of next steps. This could be further tests, a private prescription, or a referral to a specialist. The GP will discuss any next steps with you during your appointment.

Do I need to book separate appointments for each person?

Yes, each consultation is for one person only.

Do I need health insurance to book a Private General Practitioner's appointment?

No, you do not need health insurance. You can simply pay for the treatment you need. Please see our pricing section above for more information.

How do I book a Private General Practitioners appointment?

You can book an appointment online using our online booking system. Or you can also book an appointment over the phone by calling us on 01635 791 301.

Can I use private health insurance?

Yes, But it is the patient’s responsibility to check with their health insurance provider if they will cover private consultations with General Practitioners and any further investigations. We are unable to obtain authorisation on the patient’s behalf or retrospectively.

Do you offer out of hours or emergency care?

Please note we cannot offer a service for medical emergencies or out-of-hours care. If you think you have a medical emergency phone your NHS GP, dial 111 or 999.

Will seeing a General Practitioner privately affect seeing my NHS General Practitioner?

No, you don’t need to de-register from your NHS General Practitioner practice. You can choose to visit us for an appointment at any time.

Our Private General Practitioners

Private General Practitioners at Total Health West Berkshire

Dr James Cave (He/Him)

GP

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James is a senior General Practitioner with over 30 years of experience. He has a wealth of experience in all aspects of medicine including Cardiovascular disease (particularly the management of cholesterol and blood pressure), Respiratory diseases, Endocrine, ENT, Musculoskeletal, and Rheumatology.

His work as Editor-in-Chief of the medical journal Drug & Therapeutics Bulletin means he has significant expertise in understanding the pros and cons of drugs and enjoys working with patients to understand what might be best for them rather than satisfying a target set elsewhere.

He has a particular interest in the care of the elderly and does offer a visiting service. He believes passionately in personal care and understands how difficult it has become for people to see their GP. Whether you have a new problem, would like time to really talk through an ongoing issue, or just get a second opinion James will be delighted to help.

In addition to general consultations, he offers soft-tissue and joint injections for such problems as frozen shoulders, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, Morton’s neuroma, and trigger finger.

In 2009 James was honoured with an OBE for services to medicine.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is wearing a black shirt with white polka dots. She stands against a plain white background.

Dr Barbara Barrie (She/Hers)

GP

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Having qualified from Edinburgh University in 1989, I have worked in the NHS for 34 years, mainly as a GP Partner, but I have also had short spells employed as a Salaried GP and GP Retainer.
In addition, I have been a Macmillan GP, an Out of Hours GP working regular weekend sessions, and a GP in Palliative Medicine.

My clinical interests are Mental Health, Women’s health, and Palliative Medicine but in my day-to-day practice, I cover all aspects of primary care.

I am qualified to fit intrauterine devices (coils) for contraception, HRT, and in the management of heavy menstrual bleeding, as well as ring pessaries for management of gynaecological prolapse.

In addition, I perform steroid knee injections to help with knee pain due to arthritis.

Aside from work, I enjoy walking my 3 dogs, ski- ing, and singing in a local choir.

Dr Susan Connell (She/Hers)

GP

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I qualified from Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School in 1993 & as a General Practitioner in 2001. I have a passion for Medicine & for thorough, holistic care. I look forward to meeting you & helping you to shape your health goals.

Our Phelbotomist

Jo Clarke Phlebotomist

Jo Clarke (She/Her)

Phlebotomist

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I have been performing Phlebotomy for adults and children since 2001.

I have worked in various Hospital and Clinical settings for the NHS and Private sector. I offer Phlebotomy Services, Well Person Checks and Electrocardiograms at Total Health West Berkshire

My weekends are filled with spending time with my husband, 2 children and 3 year old grandson, and hopefully once a year sitting on a sandy beach somewhere very hot.