How to Choose a Private Oncologist in London

Choosing a cancer specialist is one of the more personal decisions a patient or family can face, and it often has to be made quickly. A clear set of questions helps to compare doctors on what matters, rather than on the polish of a website.

What private care changes

Private oncology in London runs alongside the NHS rather than in place of it. Many consultants work in both, and some, after years in NHS teaching hospitals, practise only in independent hospitals. Patients usually choose private care for speed of access, the ability to see the same consultant at every appointment and more time to ask questions.

It is worth being clear about what does not change. The medical evidence behind treatment is the same, and good private oncologists coordinate with a patient's NHS team and GP rather than compete with it. The reasons to go private are about access and continuity, not a different kind of medicine.

As one example, Dr James Wilson is a consultant clinical oncologist who describes himself as a private oncologist London patients can see for lung cancer and skin cancer, including melanoma. His practice states that he works exclusively in London's independent hospitals and offers video consultations for patients elsewhere in the UK and abroad.

Check registration first

The first check takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Every doctor practising in the UK must be on the General Medical Council's register, and the register shows whether a doctor holds a licence to practise. The register is searchable online by name.

For consultants, the next check is the Specialist Register. The GMC explains that it is a list of doctors eligible for appointment as substantive, fixed term or honorary consultants in the UK health service, and that a doctor's entry on the medical register says if they are on it. The GMC also notes that some established NHS consultants are not on the register simply because they were appointed before 1 January 1997, when the requirement began.

A consultant who is not on the Specialist Register should be able to explain why. Ask also about any conditions or restrictions on registration, and about the hospitals where the doctor holds practising privileges, since those hospitals carry out their own checks. Hospitals that grant practising privileges usually check registration, indemnity cover and appraisal records, so the hospital's name is itself a form of reassurance. Patients can also check inspection reports published by the Care Quality Commission, which show how an independent hospital was rated on safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.

Match expertise to your cancer

Oncology covers different disciplines. Clinical oncologists are trained in both radiotherapy and systemic therapy such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, while medical oncologists focus on drug treatment, and surgeons operate. Most cancers are managed by a team, so the question is which specialist leads and how the others are involved.

Sub-specialty matters. A doctor who treats lung cancer or skin cancer every week will have seen more variations than one who treats many types occasionally. Dr Wilson's practice describes lung cancer, skin cancer and keloid scars as areas of expertise, along with radiotherapy techniques such as stereotactic body radiotherapy and access to clinical trials, and a patient with a different cancer would want to ask about relevant experience.

Ask how treatment plans are decided. A multidisciplinary team meeting, where surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and oncologists review a case together, is standard good practice, and private consultants should be able to say how their patients' cases reach one.

Hospitals, access and continuity

Practical details shape the experience. Dr Wilson's practice lists consulting rooms at The Cromwell Hospital in Earl's Court and at The London Clinic and Harley Street locations, and it says patients can be seen in person in London or by video. Check where scans, radiotherapy and any inpatient care would take place, since those may differ from the consulting room.

Speed claims should be specific. The practice states that it offers same or next-day consultations and fast access to scans, and anyone comparing providers should ask for typical times from first call to appointment, to scan results and to start of treatment, and what happens when a result is not what was hoped.

Continuity is a benefit of private care that should be confirmed, not assumed. Ask who covers when the consultant is away, how out-of-hours problems are handled and how information flows to the patient's GP. Ask for written confirmation.

Costs, insurance and second opinions

Ask for a written estimate of consultation, scan and treatment costs, and ask what is not included, such as hospital fees, pathology and follow-up appointments. Fees for some consultants are published by the Private Healthcare Information Network, which gives patients a way to compare before booking.

Check insurance before the first visit. Insurers often require pre-authorization and may recognize only certain consultants or hospitals, and a cancer diagnosis can change what a policy covers. Keep every approval in writing.

A second opinion is a legitimate and common request. Dr Wilson's practice offers a cancer second-opinion service in person or by video, and many patients use it to confirm a plan before committing. A good oncologist welcomes the question and will share records and scans without friction. Patients may also ask whether the consultant will liaise directly with their NHS team, so that the records, scans and plan stay consistent across both settings.