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Bupa consultant recognition

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Bupa recognised consultant.

Following a review, Bupa consultant recognition has been updated to reflect feedback from consultants, medical professional bodies and customers.

From June 2010, consultants will be recognised by our updated recognition criteria in line with recent changes introduced by the GMC such as confirmation that consultants hold an appropriate licence to practise and a Certificate of Completion of Medical Training.

We are enhancing the services we offer Bupa recognised consultants from our dedicated support team, and will provide access to online services enabling speedy payment of bills and less administration.

We are also looking at how we might offer more support to consultants in the future to help them develop their private practice, for example by giving them the opportunity to market directly to Bupa members online.

Please complete our online application form. Information to help you is available below and in downloadable documents at each step of the application process. Please note that the application process is individual and each consultant in a group must have their own individual recognition.

Recognition criteria

The criteria to become a Bupa recognised consultant (newly recognised from 2010) fall into three areas: professional, customer service and administrative.
Bupa’s professional criteria follow recognised NHS and GMC regulatory requirements. Here is a list of the principal professional criteria – more detail can be found on the application form.

A Bupa recognised consultant needs to:

  • hold or have held a substantive NHS Consultant appointment
  • be on the GMC/GDC specialist register
  • hold a GMC Licence to Practise
  • hold a Certificate of Completion of Medical Training
  • have Personal Professional Indemnity Insurance for your private practice.

We will also consider consultants with comparable experience, from outside the UK, who are on the GMC/GDC specialist register. Please contact us for further information.

How to apply

The online application form is easy to use and can be accessed from any computer’s internet browser. The software does not reside on personal computers and the exchange of all information is performed electronically.

We anticipate that completing the application form will take up to an hour, depending on the complexity of your practice.

If you are unable to complete your application in one session you can return to it later using the same computer and log on details.

Please follow the steps below:

Step 1) Read background and application information Hide

Please read the Guide to Bupa Consultant Recognition (pdf, 55kb) and Questions and Answers (pdf, 68kb) documents. You can access these by clicking on the links above. These will give you more information about Bupa consultant recognition, what we offer, and what we ask of you.

Step 2) Terms for Bupa recognised consultants Hide

Please review the Terms (pdf, 110kb) for providing treatment to Bupa members. By submitting your application, you confirm your acceptance of these.

(newly recognised from 2010)
Step 3) Information Hide

Your application will be quicker and easier if you have the following information handy before you start:

  • information about the clinical conditions that you treat
  • information about the therapeutic approach that you routinely use in your sessions
  • information about the days and times you would make available for consultations with Bupa members
  • the name and address of the consulting rooms you use
  • an indication of the number of patients you have capacity to see and treat in your first year as a Bupa recognised therapist so we can ensure that there is sufficient capacity in your area to meet our members’ needs.
Step 4) Important Information Hide

Please do not start treating Bupa members until your application has been approved and we have confirmed your Bupa recognition. This is because Bupa will not fund any services provided to Bupa members unless they are delivered by a Bupa recognised therapist. Your Bupa recognition will commence on the date from which you are added to Bupa’s list of recognised therapists.

Step 5) Apply Hide

Please click this link to access the Application Form

Once you have completed and submitted your online application, we will email you to let you know that we have received it.

  • *Lines are open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and calls may be recorded and may be monitored. Local call charges apply. Charges from some providers may vary. At busy times, you may prefer to send us an email requesting us to call you back later.

Contact us

  • Telephone

    Call our Provider Management team on:

    08456 00 54 22*

    At busy times, you may prefer to send us an email requesting us to call you back later.

Still need help?

If the information on this page and in the documents has not answered your questions or you would like further help, please contact us using the details above.

Reference material