In short: Shevington Surgery is an NHS GP practice serving registered patients, with care that is free at the point of use. Ready Health in Standish is a separate, CQC-registered private clinic where you pay for each appointment or test and can book without being registered. Many people use both: their NHS practice for ongoing care, and a private clinic for things like extra appointment options, blood tests or medical reports.

This guide from Ready Health explains how NHS general practice and private GP services differ, so people in Shevington, Standish and the wider Wigan area can decide which suits their needs.

What is the difference between an NHS GP practice and a private clinic?

	NHS GP practice (for example Shevington Surgery)	Private clinic (Ready Health, Standish)
Cost	Free at the point of use; NHS prescription charges apply in England unless exempt	You pay for consultations, tests and private prescriptions
Registration	You register as a patient with the practice	No registration needed; book as and when you need to
Ongoing care	Long-term condition management, NHS screening, immunisations and referrals into NHS services	One-off or episodic care; we can share letters with your NHS GP with your consent
Booking	Through the practice's own booking system	Online or by phone; appointments run on set days depending on clinician availability
Appointment length	Set by the practice	Choice of 15, 30 or 60 minute GP appointments, face to face, plus telephone or video options

What does an NHS GP practice provide?

Your NHS GP practice is the main point of contact for your health over the long term. It holds your full medical record, manages long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure, provides NHS repeat prescriptions, invites you for national screening and vaccination programmes, and refers you into NHS hospital and community services. If you live in Shevington, contact Shevington Surgery directly for NHS appointments and information.

What does Ready Health offer?

Ready Health is a CQC-registered independent clinic on High Street, Standish. Services include:

private GP appointments with GMC-registered doctors
private blood tests and health checks
women's and men's health clinics
mental health and psychology services, including adult ADHD assessment
travel health and vaccinations
medical reports, such as HGV, taxi and pre-employment medicals
minor procedures and diagnostic referrals

Any prescription is issued only if the prescriber decides it is clinically appropriate after assessing you, and private prescriptions are paid for privately. We do not prescribe controlled drugs, sedatives or sleeping tablets for addiction.

Why might someone choose a private appointment?

To choose an appointment time or length that fits around work or family
For services not routinely provided on the NHS, such as some travel vaccines, occupational medicals or elective health checks
To have a blood test or check without needing a referral
For a longer appointment to discuss several concerns

Private care does not replace your NHS practice. You remain entitled to NHS care, and it is usually best to keep your NHS GP informed of any private tests or treatment.

What should you use in an emergency?

Neither a GP practice nor a private clinic is an emergency service. Call 999 or go to A&E for emergencies, and use NHS 111 for urgent advice when your practice is closed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to leave my NHS practice to use Ready Health?

No. You stay registered with your NHS GP and can use private services alongside.

Will my NHS GP continue a medicine started privately?

Not automatically. Your NHS GP decides whether to take over prescribing, sometimes under a shared-care arrangement. Otherwise, the medicine continues on private prescription.

Can Ready Health send results to my GP?

With your consent, we can share results and clinic letters so your NHS record stays complete.

Is Ready Health part of Shevington Surgery?

No. Ready Health is an independent clinic with no connection to Shevington Surgery.

Key takeaways

Shevington Surgery is an NHS practice for registered patients; Ready Health is a separate private clinic in Standish.
NHS care is free at the point of use; private care is paid for.
Many people use their NHS GP for ongoing care and a private clinic for specific needs.
Use 999, A&E or NHS 111 for emergencies and urgent out-of-hours advice.

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Shamir Patel, Independent Prescribing Pharmacist, Ready Health. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own clinician.

Shevington Surgery is a separate NHS practice located at Houghton Lane, Shevington, Wigan WN6 8ET (telephone 01942 367420), with no connection to Ready Health. For NHS services, please use the practice's official website.

To book privately, see our private GP appointments in Standish or our private blood tests, or call Ready Health on 01257 676001.