Rishi Sunak today finally admitted using private healthcare - and claimed he's now got an NHS GP.
After weeks of dodging questions, the multimillionaire Prime Minister announced he had used private healthcare "in the past".
But he added he is now registered with an NHS GP and is "proud" to come from an NHS family.
Downing Street refused to say when the PM signed up to an NHS GP - or if he still had private healthcare when he became PM in October.
Asked if Mr Sunak will use private healthcare in future, his Press Secretary replied: “I think that’s a hypothetical question, I won’t be commenting further.”
In November, reports emerged the PM used a west London clinic that charges £250 for a half-hour appointment.
The surgery also offers e-mail and phone consultations for £150, home visits for £400 to £500, and prescriptions for £80.
The PM refused three times on Sunday to say if he used private healthcare, claiming questions over his status were a "distraction" and "not really relevant".
But after the Royal College of Nursing told him to "come clean", and he was humiliated by Health Secretary Steve Barclay today saying he uses he NHS, Mr Sunak tried to clarify the situation at PMQs.
Labour MP Cat Smith challenged the PM on how long he had to wait for his last NHS dentist appointment after saying there were no NHS dentists taking on patients in her Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency.
Rishi Sunak said: "I am registered with an NHS GP. I have used independent healthcare in the past.
"The truth is I am proud to come from an NHS family and that's why I am passionately committed to protecting it with more funding, more doctors and nurses and a clear to plan to cut the waiting lists."
"He'll soon enjoy the experience of waiting on hold every morning at 8am to get a GP appointment," Keir Starmer shot back.
Mr Starmer's spokesman said the Labour leader has never had private healthcare - and said there was public interest in transparency on the PM's choices.
The confession came in a heated Prime Minister's Questions - the first of 2023 - where Keir Starmer the Prime Minister's "response to the greatest crisis in the history of the NHS is to threaten to sack our nurses".
Blasting a minimum service levels law published yesterday that will force striking workers to cross picket lines, the Labour leader said: "There’s not a minimum service any day because they’ve broken the NHS."
He added: "When I clapped nurses, I meant it... They’ve gone from clapping the nurses to sacking the nurses, it’s that simple."
Mr Sunak insisted the minimum service levels law was proportionate and similar to laws in France, Italy and Spain, and said of Keir Starmer: "He’s focused on petty politics, I’m delivering for Britain".
He called it "minimum safety" legislation, despite the law - which affects a wide range of industries including the railways - not using the word "safety" once.
Keir Starmer shot back: "You can't legislate your way out of 13 years of failure."
The PM’s press secretary said “he doesn’t have private healthcare cover” and suggested that meant both a GP and insurance.
She added: “As far as I’m aware, he is only registered with an NHS GP.”
However, asked if he was no longer registered with a private GP, she also said she was to getting drawn into speculation.
She said: “He in principle believes the personal health details of any individual should remain private, for obvious reasons.
“But given the level of interest, and in the interests of transparency, he set out his arrangements today.”
When asked about whether the Prime Minister should specify how long he has been registered with an NHS GP for, Keir Starmer's spokesman said: "It's for Downing Street to decide the questions that they answer, but clearly there is public interest in transparency on this, but as I say, we're not going to get into commenting on individuals' health choices."
He also confirmed Mr Starmer has never had private healthcare.
