Verify the consultant on the GMC specialist register, then match their subspecialty to your exact problem — a knee surgeon for a knee, not a general orthopod. Ask how many of your procedure they do a year, and how outcomes are tracked. A consultation costs £150–£300, so the choice is worth an hour's homework; the private secretary is your logistics ally throughout.
- ✓Check the GMC register first: licensed, on the specialist register, no conditions on practice.
- ✓Subspecialty fit beats reputation — you want someone who does your exact procedure, often.
- ✓Volume and outcomes questions are normal; good consultants answer them without flinching.
Start with the register, not the reviews
Every doctor practising in the UK appears on the General Medical Council's online register, free to search. Two minutes there beats an hour of star ratings. You're checking three things:
- A licence to practise — current, not lapsed.
- Entry on the specialist register in the relevant specialty. 'Consultant' describes a job; the specialist register is the qualification behind it.
- No conditions or restrictions on their practice. The register shows these.
Online reviews measure bedside manner and car parking, which matter, but they're a supplement — not a substitute — for the register. Hospital profile pages and the consultant's own site then tell you about subspecialty interests, which is where the real choosing happens.
Subspecialty fit: the question that does most of the work
Modern medicine is deeply subspecialised. An orthopaedic surgeon may focus almost entirely on hips, or shoulders, or feet; a gynaecologist on fertility, or oncology, or the menopause. The single highest-value question when choosing is: does this consultant's declared subspecialty match my exact problem?
A knee replacement from a surgeon who does knees week in, week out is a different proposition from the same operation done occasionally by a generalist. Evidence across surgery consistently associates higher procedure volumes with better outcomes — which leads directly to the questions below.
The questions to ask — and how to ask them
A private consultation typically costs £150–£300, and part of what you're buying is the right to interview. None of these questions is rude; all of them are routine for a confident specialist.
| Ask | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| How many of this procedure do you do a year? | A specific number, without defensiveness — and enough of them for it to be routine |
| How do you track your outcomes? | References to audited results, national registries or hospital data — not just 'my patients do well' |
| What are the realistic risks for someone like me? | Percentages and honesty, including the option of not operating |
| Who covers complications, and where? | A clear aftercare plan: who you call, which hospital, what's included in the fee |
| What would you do in my position? | A reasoned view — and respect for a second opinion if you want one |
A consultant who bristles at the volumes or outcomes questions has answered them. For independent background, hospital quality data — CQC ratings and PHIN's published private-market figures — tells you about the venue around the surgeon.
Cover that pays for the consultant you choose
The private secretary: your actual point of contact
Practical truth of private medicine: you'll speak to the consultant's private secretary far more than the consultant. The secretary handles booking, fees, insurer authorisation codes, imaging transfers and follow-ups — and their responsiveness is a fair preview of how the whole episode will run.
- Email first, note the turnaround. Days of silence at the sales stage rarely improves after payment.
- Confirm fees in writing: initial consultation, follow-ups, and — for surgery — whether the quote is a fixed package or consultant, anaesthetist and hospital billed separately.
- If insured, bring your authorisation number and check the consultant is fee-approved with your insurer — this avoids shortfall bills where a consultant charges above the insurer's rates.
- Send records and imaging ahead via the secretary, so the consultation starts informed rather than cold.
The route in
Most private consultants ask for a GP referral, and most insurers require one — some run guided-referral lists that will nominate consultants for you (you can usually still express a preference). Self-pay patients can occasionally book directly, but a referral keeps your GP in the loop and your records joined up; our guide to GP referrals for private treatment covers the mechanics.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a private consultant is properly qualified?
Search the GMC's free online register: confirm a current licence to practise, entry on the specialist register in the relevant specialty, and no conditions on their practice. 'Consultant' is a job title — the specialist register is the qualification. Do this before reading any reviews.
What questions should I ask a private consultant before surgery?
How many of this exact procedure they do a year, how their outcomes are tracked, realistic risks for your case, who handles complications and where, and what they'd do in your position. All are routine questions for a confident specialist — defensiveness is itself an answer.
Does it matter how many operations a private consultant does?
Yes. Evidence across surgery consistently links higher procedure volumes with better outcomes, and subspecialists who do your operation routinely are generally the safer choice. Prefer the surgeon for whom your case is boring — ask for a number, and expect one.
Can I choose my own consultant with health insurance?
Usually, within limits: the consultant must typically be recognised by your insurer, fee-approved, and practising at a hospital on your policy's list. Some policies use guided referrals, where the insurer nominates consultants — you can often still state a preference. Confirm before booking to avoid shortfall bills.
What does a private consultant's secretary actually handle?
Nearly everything logistical: bookings, fee quotes, insurer authorisation codes, transferring your records and imaging, and arranging follow-ups. Their responsiveness before you commit is a fair preview of the whole experience — email first, get fees in writing, and send your records ahead.