Seeing a Gynaecologist in London: The Complete Guide for French Women

One of the first things French women tell me when they arrive in my consulting room is some version of the same sentence: “I just could not understand why I couldn’t see a gynaecologist.” It is a frustration I hear weekly, and one I understand intimately — because I have lived it from both sides, as a French-trained doctor and as someone who now practises within the British system.

If you have recently moved to London from France — or if you have been here for years and still feel lost when it comes to gynaecological care — this article is for you. The British and French healthcare systems approach women’s health in fundamentally different ways, and understanding those differences is the first step towards getting the care you need.

The fundamental difference: gynaecology in France vs the UK

In France, most women have a gynécologue from adolescence. You see her (or him) directly — no referral, no gatekeeper, no waiting list. Your gynaecologist manages your contraception, performs your smear tests, monitors your pregnancies, screens your breasts, manages your menopause. She is your single point of continuity for decades of reproductive life. This is the model of gynécologie médicale — a distinctly French specialty that focuses on the non-surgical, longitudinal care of women’s health.

In the United Kingdom, this specialty simply does not exist. Gynaecology here is structured as a primarily surgical referral specialty under the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). It is designed to manage conditions that require investigation, procedures, or operations — not the routine, preventive care that a French gynécologue médicale provides.

So where does that routine care go? In the UK, it is distributed across several different providers:

• Your GP prescribes contraception, manages straightforward menstrual problems, and refers you on if something requires specialist input
• A practice nurse performs your cervical smear test
• Sexual health clinics handle STI screening and some contraception services
• A hospital gynaecologist is involved only if your GP identifies a problem that needs specialist assessment — and only after a referral

For a French woman accustomed to one trusted specialist managing everything, this fragmentation can feel bewildering. And it means that certain things you took for granted in France — an annual gynaecological examination, a regular breast check by a specialist, a detailed contraception review with someone who knows your full history — are not routinely available through the NHS.

What your London GP can and cannot do

I want to be fair to the NHS. British GPs are highly trained, and they can provide good basic gynaecological care. A UK GP can:

• Prescribe and manage most forms of contraception, including the pill, patch, and ring
• Arrange your cervical screening (smear test) through the national programme
• Investigate and manage straightforward menstrual problems
• Refer you for gynaecological ultrasound or to a hospital gynaecologist when needed
• Prescribe hormone replacement therapy for menopause
• Some GPs with additional training can fit coils (IUDs) and implants

What a GP generally cannot offer — and this is where French women feel the gap most acutely — is the kind of comprehensive, specialist-led annual review you were used to in France. A ten-minute GP appointment does not allow for a detailed hormonal history, a breast examination, a pelvic examination, an ultrasound, and a discussion about contraception or screening. These things require time, specialism, and continuity — exactly what the French model of gynécologie médicale was designed to provide.

There is also the question of waiting times. If your GP does refer you to an NHS gynaecologist, the wait can be considerable. The NHS target for referral-to-treatment is 18 weeks, but gynaecology waiting times in England have been significantly longer in recent years, with many women waiting well beyond this target. For something that feels urgent or distressing, that wait is not always acceptable.

Seeing a private gynaecologist in London: how it works

The most straightforward route for French women who want the kind of care they are accustomed to is to see a private gynaecologist. The process is far simpler than navigating the NHS referral pathway:

• No referral is needed. You can book directly with a private gynaecologist. You do not need your GP’s permission or a referral letter.
• You choose your consultant. You can select someone based on their specialism, their language, or their approach to care.
• Appointments are longer. A typical first consultation lasts 30 to 45 minutes — enough time for a thorough history, examination, discussion, and plan.
• Investigations can be done on the same day. Ultrasound, blood tests, and smear tests can often be performed during your appointment, rather than requiring separate visits weeks later.

The cost of a private gynaecology consultation in London typically ranges from £200 to £350 for an initial appointment, depending on the clinic and the consultant. Follow-up appointments are usually £150 to £250. Many women find this comparable to the cost of a specialist consultation in France outside the Conventionné Secteur 1 tariff.

If you have private health insurance — whether through your employer, a French insurer such as April International or the CFE, or a UK provider such as Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, or Vitality — your consultation may be partially or fully covered. It is always worth checking with your insurer before booking.

What to expect from a private gynaecological consultation

If you have never seen a private gynaecologist in London, the process may feel unfamiliar even though the consultation itself will feel reassuringly close to what you experienced in France. A typical first appointment includes:

A detailed medical history. Your consultant will ask about your menstrual cycles, contraception, any previous pregnancies, family history, current symptoms, and any concerns. This is your opportunity to share everything — and in a language you are comfortable with, if your consultant speaks French.

A physical examination if appropriate. This may include a pelvic examination, a breast examination, or both, depending on your symptoms and the reason for your visit. Nothing is performed without your consent and full explanation.

Investigations. Depending on your needs, your consultant may perform a gynaecological ultrasound, take a smear test, arrange blood tests, or recommend further imaging. In a private setting, many of these can be done during the same appointment.

A management plan. You will leave the consultation with a clear understanding of any findings, a plan for treatment or monitoring, and — importantly — a direct line to your consultant for follow-up questions. This continuity of care is what French women miss most, and it is precisely what a private gynaecologist can provide.

Why location matters: Kensington and the French community

London’s French community is concentrated around South Kensington — home to the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, the Institut Français, the French Consulate, and a network of French bookshops, boulangeries, and cultural institutions that make this corner of London feel genuinely Parisian. It is no coincidence that many French-speaking medical professionals choose to practise in this area.

I see patients at two locations: The Medical Chambers Kensington (10 Knaresborough Place, SW5 0TG) — in the heart of this French quarter — and at 25 Harley Street (W1G 8QW), London’s historic medical district. Both clinics are easily accessible, and both offer the kind of calm, private environment that makes discussing intimate health concerns easier.

Consultations are available in both French and English. For many of my French patients, the ability to describe their symptoms, ask questions, and discuss sensitive topics in their mother tongue transforms the consultation. Gynaecology is among the most intimate areas of medicine, and the nuance of language matters enormously.

Bridging two systems: what I bring from French training

I trained in France — at the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris — before completing specialist training in the UK. That dual background shapes how I practise. I understand the French expectation of an ongoing, comprehensive relationship with a gynaecologist. I also understand the strengths of the British system — its evidence-based guidelines, its structured screening programmes, its excellent emergency care.

What I try to offer my patients is the best of both worlds: the continuity and thoroughness of the French approach, delivered within a framework that is informed by UK guidelines from NICE, the RCOG, and the British Menopause Society. Whether you need a routine well-woman check-up, contraception advice, menopause management, or investigation of a specific symptom, the goal is the same: thorough, personalised, evidence-based care, with you at the centre.

The Dispensaire Français: a free alternative

I want to mention an important resource for French women in London who cannot access private care. The Dispensaire Français, based at 184 Hammersmith Road (W6 7DJ), is a charitable organisation run by the Société Française de Bienfaisance. It provides free medical consultations to French-speaking people in the UK who are in financial difficulty.

I volunteer at the Dispensaire as a gynaecologist, offering free consultations to women who would otherwise go without care. The women I see there are often those who have fallen through the gaps of the NHS — unable to navigate the referral system, uncertain of their entitlements, or simply unaware that gynaecological care exists outside a hospital setting. If you or someone you know needs support, the Dispensaire is a trusted and welcoming place to start.

Practical steps: what to do next

If you are a French woman living in London and feeling uncertain about your gynaecological care, here is what I would suggest:

• Register with a GP if you have not already. This gives you access to NHS services including the cervical screening programme, which invites women for smears every five years from the age of 25 (following the switch to HPV-primary testing).
• Do not wait for a problem to seek specialist care. Preventive gynaecology — the kind you were used to in France — is about catching things early, not waiting until something goes wrong.
• Book a private consultation if you want the comprehensive, integrated care that a French-trained gynaecologist can offer. No referral is needed, and appointments are typically available within days.
• Contact the Dispensaire Français if cost is a barrier. Free, French-speaking gynaecological care is available.