What is acid reflux (gord)?
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid travels back up into the oesophagus (food pipe). When this is frequent or severe, it's called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The lower oesophageal sphincter, the muscle that should keep stomach contents down, doesn't close properly. Common contributors are weight, diet, alcohol, smoking, and sometimes a hiatus hernia.
Common symptoms
- Heartburn (a burning chest pain after eating or when lying down)
- Regurgitation of acid or food into the mouth
- Bitter or sour taste in the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chronic cough, especially at night
- Hoarse voice
- Bloating, burping
When to see a doctor
Book a GP if symptoms occur more than twice a week, aren't relieved by over-the-counter antacids, are waking you at night, or lifestyle changes haven't helped after 2-4 weeks.
Seek urgent help if
- Difficulty or pain swallowing (could be a stricture or, rarely, cancer, refer urgently)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Vomiting blood or coffee-ground-like vomit (call 999)
- Black, tarry stools (call 999, suggests bleeding)
- Chest pain that radiates to the arm or jaw, or comes with sweating (call 999 to rule out heart attack)
- New onset of reflux symptoms in anyone over 55 (2-week-wait referral for endoscopy)
How a private GP can help
A consultation typically covers:
- Symptom-based assessment
- Lifestyle and dietary advice (alcohol, smoking, weight, late meals, raising the head of the bed)
- Prescription of proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole) or H2 blockers (famotidine)
- Review after 4-8 weeks to assess response
- 2-week-wait referral for endoscopy if red-flag symptoms are present
- Referral to gastroenterology for treatment-resistant cases
What we don't do
- Endoscopy or other diagnostics, we refer to NHS for these
- Specialist gastroenterology assessment
What it costs
An online consultation about acid reflux (gord) starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.
See the full pricing breakdown for what's included with each appointment type.