Insured patients pick from a list. Does your listing make them pick you?
Insurer and hospital finder tools are where many insured patients choose their consultant. Here is how to make your listing count.
Is this you? Tap any that are true.
Most people reading this tick at least one.
It only takes one to cost you.
- steps
- 7
- steps
- to start
- 1 hour
- to start
- scorecard
- Free
- scorecard
The short answer
Many insured patients choose from their insurer's consultant finder before they ever see your website, so your listing is a shop window you did not design. Find every insurer and hospital listing, correct the photo, specialties, conditions and locations through each one's own process, and check twice a year. It is an afternoon's work spread over a few weeks of replies.
What good looks like
Your profile, before and after
Mr Sam Patel, Consultant Orthopaedic surgery
- Improved: Recent photo · full list of conditions
- Improved: Every location and a direct way to book
Illustrative sample, not a real person or result. Your own audit uses your real details.
7 steps
Do it yourself: step by step
0 of 7 done
Search for yourself on the consultant finder of each insurer that recognises you (for example Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA), each hospital group's consultant finder, and PHIN
- Time
- 1 hour
- Typical cost
- £0
- Who does it
- Secretary
Why it matters
Many insured patients choose from these lists before they ever see your website.
Done when: A list of every listing with a screenshot of each
This problem is Solvable.
Copy this template
Master profile and listing tracker
Free to copy, adapt and use. No sign-up.
Master profile
Name and title: [Mr/Ms/Dr] [First name] [Surname] GMC number: [ ] Specialty: [ ] Sub-specialty interests: [ ]
Short biography (about 100 words)
[Title] [Surname] is a consultant [specialty] at [hospital or trust]. [He/She/They] see[s] adults [and children] with [condition 1], [condition 2] and [condition 3], and perform[s] [procedure 1] and [procedure 2]. [One sentence on training or particular expertise, stated factually.] [Title] [Surname] holds clinics at [location 1] and [location 2]. Recognised by [insurers]. Self-pay patients welcome.
Longer biography (about 250 words): [expand with training, NHS role, research or teaching, stated factually]
Conditions treated (patients' words): [e.g. knee pain, torn cartilage, arthritis of the knee]
Procedures: [ ]
Locations and clinic days:
- [Location 1], [day]
- [Location 2], [day]
Phone (answered): [ ] Email: [ ] Booking or enquiry link: [ ]
Photo: [file name, date taken]
---
Listing tracker
| Listing | Photo current | Specialties right | Conditions right | All locations | Phone right | Update sent (date, reference) | Live? | Next check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bupa Finder | [spring] | |||||||
| AXA Health | ||||||||
| Aviva | ||||||||
| Vitality | ||||||||
| WPA | ||||||||
| [Other insurer] | ||||||||
| [Hospital 1] consultant finder | ||||||||
| [Hospital 2] consultant finder | ||||||||
| PHIN | ||||||||
| Doctify or other directory |
Update request email
Subject: Consultant listing update: [Name], GMC [number]
Please update my listing on your consultant finder with the attached photo and the details below. Specifically: [list the changes]. Please confirm when the changes are live.
[Name], [phone]
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Never searching for yourself on the finders patients actually use.
- Giving each insurer and hospital a different biography, so details drift.
- Listing only your specialty and not the conditions patients search for.
- Assuming the hospital updates insurer listings for you.
- Sending an update and never checking whether it went live.
Free personal check
Done by Paul Robinson, not software
I'll check how you appear on insurer and hospital finders and list what to correct
What I need from you
- Your name and specialty
- The hospitals you work at
- The insurers that recognise you
What you get
- Screenshots of your main listings
- The errors costing you most
- The update route for each one
Within 2 working days
No sign-in, no sales call. I read every request myself and reply on WhatsApp.
Free tools
Check where you stand
Benchmarks
Consultants must publish the fees they normally charge on PHIN. Legal requirement in force since January 2019 under the CMA's Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014
Applies to all consultants seeing private patients
Source: PHIN
Listing changes usually take 2 to 6 weeks to appear after an update request
Solvable estimate based on typical insurer and hospital turnaround. Not published by insurers
Solvable estimate
Paul Robinson
14 years in UK private healthcare
I solve this one for consultants
Want a hand? I'll look at your situation and tell you the three things I'd tackle first.
A few quick questions, about two minutes. I read every one myself and usually reply the same day.
No sales call unless you ask for one. Just a straight answer and what I'd do first.
I reply personally, usually the same day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why do I not appear for a condition I treat?
Finders often match on specialty or procedure data the insurer holds. Ask each insurer how its finder decides and request the change.
Can I choose my photo?
Usually yes, through the insurer's or hospital's update process. Send a recent professional headshot.
Who should do this?
Your secretary, using one master profile you have approved.
How long do changes take?
Often two to six weeks. Log the date and reference so you can chase.
Does my PHIN profile matter?
Yes. Consultants must publish fee information there, and patients and insurers can see it.
Last reviewed:
Sources
The Solvable community
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