Concierge Choice Physicians Launches First-of-its-Kind Concierge Medicine Program in the UK

London area doctors can now offer exclusive, limited-membership model to patients

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Oct 09, 2018, 05:02 ET

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the national leader in the hybrid approach to concierge medicine programs in the U.S., announced today the launch of the first personalized, choice-based concierge medicine program in the United Kingdom (UK), Concierge Choice UK (CCUK).

Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the national leader in the hybrid approach to concierge medicine programs in the U.S., announced today the launch of the first personalized, choice-based concierge medicine program in the United Kingdom (UK), Concierge Choice UK (CCUK).

Launching October 8 in London, with close to 100 General Practitioners (GP) expected by the end of the year, the new program was created for the UK healthcare marketplace. The Concierge Choice UK program is an exclusive, limited membership program that combines the expertise of GPs who provide the majority of basic healthcare services for the country's National Health Service (NHS) patients, with the personalized approach, time and convenience of private healthcare.

"The launch of a concierge program in the U.K. highlights that worldwide, patients and providers want healthcare that is more personalized, more meaningful, and less confusing for themselves and their families," said Wayne Lipton, founder and managing partner for CCP. "We've worked closely for several years with GPs and patients in the UK to ensure we created a program that worked within their system, encouraged top physicians to stay in practice, and ensured personalized care would be available to all patients."

Under the CCP program, a small percentage of patients within a practice (under 75 patients per GP) opt to join the program and receive a range of services including an annual physical examination, their GP's mobile phone number for non-urgent matters, timely face-to-face consultations that can last up to 30 minutes, and health and well-being advice. Patients choose from a local network of experienced GPs, whom they will see at every visit, ensuring continuity of care, a stronger provider relationship and a greater focus on prevention and wellness. The annual cost of the program is £1200, or £100 per month, similar to US costs for concierge care, generally $1,600 or $135/month.

A 2018 survey of 1,500 patients conducted by CCP showed that 66 percent of patients in England were satisfied with the GP appointment times available to them. Additionally, 62 percent were offered a choice of GP appointment (choice of time/day, location or GP) and half saw their preferred GP. As a result, more than 50 percent of patients surveyed were interested in participating in and paying a fee for the range of services this new healthcare program offers.

The critical difference between the CCUK approach to concierge medicine and private medicine in the UK is that the CCUK program benefits all parties: the GPs who need a break from the pressure of volume care put on their practices, the NHS by keeping quality GPs engaged and committed, and patients, many of whom would like greater access to their GP and continuity of care.

The announcement comes at a time when both patients and GPs in the UK are seeking alternatives to a healthcare system that, while popular, is straining under increasing demands. Like the U.S, the population in the U.K. is aging and chronic illnesses are increasing.

Additionally, many physicians who feel over-burdened by current demands are retiring early or moving into other areas of healthcare, leaving a shortage of providers in many areas. The result is increasing patient dissatisfaction with the current system and a growing need for options that don't require increasing taxes or government support. The CCUK program is privately funded but works alongside the NHS system without compromising access to physicians who care for NHS patients.

"This is our first venture outside of the US using the strength of the hybrid concierge model," said Lipton. "We have already begun looking at other countries that may benefit."

For additional information visit www.choice.md or CCP UK at www.ConciergeChoice.co.uk.

About Concierge Choice Physicians, LLC
Founded in 2005, Concierge Choice Physicians™ is the largest private provider of the full range of concierge programs available today—Hybrid, Traditional and FullFLEX™. CCP is also the industry's second largest concierge medicine company overall. The company provides innovative, flexible and affordable models proven to work in medical practices of any size and for independent physicians as well as those affiliated with hospitals or health systems. Headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, the company works with medical practices in more than 20 states. For more information, visit www.choice.md, or call 877-888-5590.

About Concierge Choice UK, LLC
Concierge Choice UK is the only UK provider of a concierge medicine membership service offering patients private care from GPs who care for NHS patients – with convenient, relaxed consultations (up to 30 minutes), continuity of care and a focus on overall wellbeing. Patients can choose their own GP from Concierge Choice UK's growing network of experienced GPs who can provide convenient and personalized private care as and when patients need it, alongside their NHS commitments. They are not able to register for concierge care at the practice where they are registered for NHS care. For further information visit: http://choicemd.org/ccpuk/index.html

SOURCE Concierge Choice Physicians