Sunak admits he has used ‘independent’ healthcare but is registered with NHS GP

Rishi Sunak has finally admitted he has used private healthcare following weeks of speculation about whether he relied on NHS services.

The Prime Minister said he was registered with an NHS GP but told MPs he had used “independent” healthcare in the past.

At Prime Minister’s Questions Mr Sunak said: “I am registered with an NHS GP.

“I have used independent healthcare in the past and I’m also grateful to the Friarage Hospital for the fantastic care they have given my family over the years.”

The Prime Minister repeatedly declined during an interview with the BBC on Sunday to say whether he pays to skip NHS queues to see a doctor.

It has previously been reported that he is registered with a private GP practice in west London.

The Prime Minister’s press secretary said that while he believed in principle personal health details should remain private, he had set out his arrangements due to “the level of interest and in the interests of transparency”.

She said that Mr Sunak no longer had private healthcare cover but declined to say when that ceased.

“He has used private healthcare in the past. He doesn’t have private healthcare cover. I am not going to get into timelines,” she said.

Mr Sunak’s comments followed Health Secretary Steve Barclay confirming he used an NHS doctor.

“I don’t subscribe to a sort of GP private thing,” the Cabinet minister told LBC.

Pressed on whether he has NHS care, Mr Barclay replied: “Yes, I don’t subscribe to private provision.

“But I don’t have a problem with people, with their own money, who wish to spend that money on private healthcare.

“I think that is a perfectly reasonable thing for people to want to do.”

A Labour spokesman said its leader Sir Keir Starmer has never had private healthcare.