Waiting weeks for a GP appointment or months for a specialist referral has become an accepted part of life for many people in Northern Ireland. Friends Medical Service was built to change that. Since 2020, we have delivered fast, professional private healthcare access to GP appointments, specialist consultations, diagnostic scans and minor procedures across Northern Ireland, serving NHS patients, private patients, healthcare professionals and organisations that need reliable referral or contract services.

Healthcare access in Northern Ireland does not need to mean lengthy waiting lists or uncertainty about when care will actually happen. This guide explains how Friends Medical Service is transforming healthcare access in Northern Ireland today, sets out the full range of private healthcare services available under one roof, and covers how patients, employers and referring professionals can get started.

What Healthcare Access in Northern Ireland Looks Like Today

Public healthcare in Northern Ireland is delivered through Health and Social Care (HSC), the region’s equivalent of the NHS. HSC provides essential, free-at-the-point-of-use care, but sustained demand across hospitals and community services means many patients face long waits for routine GP appointments, specialist clinic referrals and diagnostic imaging.

Private healthcare in Northern Ireland has grown in response, giving patients a faster route to the same standard of clinical care without replacing the wider HSC system. Friends Medical Service sits within this private healthcare landscape as a locally based medical centre offering:

  • Same-day and next-day GP appointments, including a walk-in service
  • Specialist consultant clinics across a wide range of conditions
  • Diagnostic imaging and testing, from ultrasound to bone density scanning
  • Minor surgical procedures carried out on-site
  • Medical reporting for legal, occupational and sporting purposes

The result is quicker healthcare access for patients who need it, delivered by qualified clinicians working to recognised quality standards.

Who Friends Medical Service Helps

Our services are designed for a broad range of patients and referring bodies, including:

  1. NHS patients seeking a faster private route to consultations, diagnostics or minor procedures while remaining registered with their existing GP
  2. Private patients with health insurance or those who prefer to self-fund their care
  3. Healthcare professionals requiring dependable referral pathways for their own patients
  4. Businesses and organisations needing occupational health support, medical assessments or workforce imaging services
  5. Solicitors and insurers requiring independent medico-legal reports for personal injury or other claims

A Full Range of Private Healthcare Services Under One Roof

Rather than sending patients between multiple providers, Friends Medical Service brings GP care, specialist clinics, diagnostics and minor surgery together at one private medical centre. Below is an overview of what is currently available.

GP Services

  • GP Appointment: booked and walk-in appointments with a private GP, with patients seen at the earliest available slot on the day
  • Blood Testing & Health Checks: a full range of blood tests and general health screening
  • ECG: standalone electrocardiogram testing to assess heart rhythm and electrical activity
  • Medical Reports: reports for driving, insurance and other administrative requirements
  • Sexual Health: confidential private testing and consultations
  • Travel Clinic: pre-travel health advice and vaccinations
  • GP Subscription Plans: ongoing access to private GP care for a fixed monthly or annual fee

Scans, Diagnostics & Injection Therapies

Specialist Clinics

Surgical Services

Support Services for Organisations and Professionals

The full list of clinics and treatments is available on our services page.

Fast Access Without Compromising on Quality

Speed is one of the main reasons patients choose private healthcare in Northern Ireland, but it should never come at the expense of clinical quality. At Friends Medical Service, streamlined booking and clinic scheduling mean patients typically access GP appointments, diagnostic imaging and specialist consultations far sooner than standard HSC waiting times allow, while still receiving thorough, evidence-based care.

Every service is delivered by qualified, experienced clinicians, including GPs, consultant specialists, radiologists and allied health professionals, using diagnostic equipment appropriate to each test or scan performed on-site.

Expertise, Accreditation and Trust

Choosing where to receive care matters, and accreditation offers a useful way to judge the standards behind a private healthcare provider. Friends Medical Service holds:

  • ISO 9001 certification for quality management
  • ISO 27001 certification for information security, protecting patient data
  • ISO 14001 certification for environmental management

Since 2020, Friends Medical Service has grown to serve more than 100,000 patients, supported by a team of over 45 healthcare professionals. Patients can read more about individual specialists on our consultants page, and learn more about our history and values on our about us page.

Referral Partnerships and Corporate Health

Friends Medical Service works alongside public and private healthcare partners to widen access to care rather than compete with the wider system.

Our journey began by supporting the Southern Health and Social Care Trust with additional ultrasound capacity during a period of significant pressure on NHS services, and that referral relationship continues today through our insourcing and tele-reporting support for Southern Trust and other healthcare providers.

Our sports injury and physiotherapy service is delivered in partnership with Pendulum Physiotherapy, giving patients access to specialist sports physiotherapists working alongside our own clinical team.

Our sleep analysis service is delivered in partnership with Sleep Medical, giving patients access to home sleep testing kits and specialist analysis of conditions such as sleep apnoea and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, without the need for an overnight hospital stay.

Our audiology service is provided in partnership with Blueberry Hearing, a family-run hearing care provider offering hearing tests, hearing aids and ear wax removal delivered by qualified audiologists.

For employers, we also provide occupational health support, including medical assessments, diagnostic imaging and general employee wellbeing services, helping organisations keep their workforce healthy and reduce absence caused by delayed diagnosis or treatment.

Health Education: Patient Guides From Our Blog

Alongside direct patient care, we publish detailed guides to help people understand common health conditions and treatment options. Recent guides include:

Visit our blog for our full library of patient guides.

How to Access Our Services: Getting Started

Getting started with Friends Medical Service is straightforward:

  1. Choose the right service. Browse our services page or call our team if you are unsure which clinic or test you need.
  2. Book an appointment. Appointments can be booked online or by phone. Patients needing a GP can also walk in during normal service hours and be seen at the earliest available slot that day, subject to the GP’s schedule.
  3. Consider a subscription plan. For patients who need ongoing GP access, our GP subscription plans provide continued care for a fixed fee.
  4. Attend your appointment. Bring any relevant referral letters, previous scan results or medication lists to help your clinician assess you fully.
  5. Follow up as needed. Where further tests, treatment or specialist referral are required, our team will guide you through the next steps.

Locations We Serve Across Northern Ireland

Friends Medical Service supports patients from right across Northern Ireland, with clinics in:

  • Lurgan: our main clinic, including GP appointments, diagnostics, minor procedures and our sports injury and physiotherapy service
  • Limavady: additional clinic services for patients in the north west of Northern Ireland
  • L/Derry: further clinic access for patients across the wider Derry and Londonderry area

Whichever Northern Ireland clinic a patient attends, the same standards of clinical care, accreditation and patient service apply. Full opening hours and directions for each site are available on our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does Friends Medical Service offer in Northern Ireland?

We offer private GP appointments, specialist consultant clinics, diagnostic scanning, minor surgical procedures and medico-legal reporting, alongside referral and insourcing support for healthcare organisations. A full list is available on our services page.

Do I need to be registered with the NHS or an HSC GP to use your services?

No. Patients can access Friends Medical Service privately regardless of their NHS or HSC GP registration, and remaining registered with your existing GP is recommended for continuity of care.

How quickly can I get an appointment?

Most GP appointments, diagnostic scans and specialist consultations are available far sooner than standard HSC waiting times, often within days rather than weeks or months, though availability varies by service.

Where is Friends Medical Service based?

Our main clinic and physiotherapy service are based in Lurgan, with additional locations serving patients in Limavady and L/Derry. Full details are available on our contact page.

Do you offer services for businesses and organisations?

Yes. We provide occupational health assessments, workforce diagnostic imaging and insourcing support for HSC trusts and other healthcare providers, alongside medico-legal and tele-reporting services for professionals.

Do I need a referral to see a specialist?

Most clinics can be booked directly without a GP referral, though some specialist services may recommend or require one. Our team can advise on the right pathway when you book.

How do I pay for my appointment?

Patients can self-fund appointments, use private health insurance where accepted, or take out one of our GP subscription plans for ongoing GP access at a fixed cost.

Book Your Appointment Today

Friends Medical Service exists to make quality healthcare access in Northern Ireland faster and more straightforward, without compromising on clinical standards. As one of Northern Ireland’s established private healthcare providers, we combine GP care, specialist clinics, diagnostics and minor surgery in a single, accredited private medical centre. Whether you need a same-day GP appointment, a specialist consultation, a diagnostic scan or support for your organisation’s workforce health, our team is ready to help.

Browse our full range of services, explore our GP subscription plans, or contact us today to book your appointment.