Guide
How to choose a private clinic
A practical checklist for choosing an independent clinic in England: registration, who will treat you, costs, aftercare and complaints.
Last reviewed 23 September 2026. Written by the CQC Clinics team. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.
Choosing a private clinic can feel difficult when you can't easily compare quality. This checklist covers the things that matter most, and the questions to ask before you book.
1. Check the clinic is registered
Most clinics that diagnose or treat health conditions in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Check the clinic's registration, the address of the location, and what it's registered to do. How to check a clinic's CQC registration.
2. Check who will treat you
Ask for the name and role of the person you'll see, and check their professional registration: the GMC for doctors, the NMC for nurses, the HCPC for psychologists and many therapists, and the GPhC for pharmacists. For specialist care, the GMC register shows whether a doctor is on the specialist register, and in which specialty.
3. Understand the total cost
Ask for a written breakdown of everything you might pay for, not just the first appointment. This includes:
- tests, scans and reports
- follow-up appointments
- medicines and prescriptions
- aftercare, and treatment if something goes wrong
- cancellation fees and refund terms
Be wary of pressure to pay upfront for long packages, or time-limited offers for medical treatment.
4. Ask about aftercare and your NHS GP
- Who do you contact if you have a problem after treatment, including out of hours?
- Will the clinic write to your NHS GP?
- If you need ongoing medicine, will the clinic keep prescribing, or will it ask your GP to? Your GP doesn't have to agree.
5. Check how complaints work
Ask for the clinic's complaints procedure. Many independent healthcare providers subscribe to the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS), which can independently review complaints that the provider hasn't resolved. If your care was funded by the NHS, you can take an unresolved complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
6. Consider online vs in person
Online consultations can be convenient and widen your choice. Ask how the clinic checks your identity and medical history, and what happens if you need to be examined in person.
7. Look at the CQC rating, if there is one
A rating shows what CQC found at its last assessment. Check the date and read the summary. Many clinics have no rating yet, which isn't a warning sign on its own. What CQC ratings mean.
8. Know the NHS alternatives
For some kinds of care, such as ADHD and autism assessments or some specialist appointments in England, you may have a legal right to choose which NHS-funded provider you're referred to. Ask your GP before paying privately.