Guy’s and St Thomas’ Private Healthcare (2026): Services, Costs & How to Book
Guy’s and St Thomas’ — now branded “Specialist Care” — offers private treatment within one of the UK’s leading NHS trusts: world-class consultants, fast access, private rooms with Thames views, and full NHS backup. Here’s what’s offered, what it costs, and how to book.
Avoid the NHS Waiting Times — Compare Top Healthcare Providers Today
Private treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ can be funded by health insurance. Compare the UK’s top providers free and see what’s covered.
Bupa · AXA · Aviva · Vitality · WPA · The Exeter
Compare Providers★★★★★Free · Independent · No obligation
Quick Overview
Guy’s and St Thomas’ offers private healthcare through its service now called “Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care”, which brings together five of London’s world-leading hospitals — St Thomas’, Guy’s, Evelina London (children’s), Royal Brompton and Harefield (heart & lung). Private patients get the same world-class consultants as the NHS side, faster access, private en-suite rooms (some with Thames and Houses of Parliament views), and the reassurance of full NHS backup — with all profits reinvested into the NHS trust. It treats self-pay, insured and international patients, with fixed-price packages for many procedures.
This independent 2026 guide explains the services, costs, insurance and how to book. (Note: a separate cancer unit, “Private Care at Guy’s”, is run by HCA — see below.)
What this guide covers
Considering private treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’? This independent 2026 guide explains how its private service works. Going Private UK is editorially independent and not affiliated with Guy’s and St Thomas’; we may earn commission when readers compare cover through our links, which funds our research but doesn’t affect our analysis.
What’s offered — and the 2026 rebrand
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust — one of the UK’s largest and most respected teaching trusts, with a history spanning more than 900 years — runs a private healthcare arm. As of 2026 this is branded “Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care”, and it has expanded to bring together five of London’s world-leading hospitals under one private service. Private patients are seen in dedicated units, by the same internationally recognised consultants who lead the NHS services, with access to the trust’s full diagnostic and surgical facilities.
💡 A genuine point of difference
Because this is an NHS-trust private service, all profits are reinvested into the NHS trust — so paying privately here also supports NHS care. You also get the safety net of a major teaching hospital’s facilities (including intensive care) on site, which not all standalone private hospitals offer.
The five hospitals
| Hospital | Known for |
|---|---|
| St Thomas’ Hospital | Maternity, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, pain medicine; private inpatients (Howard Ward) & outpatients (Westminster Bridge Consulting Rooms) |
| Guy’s Hospital | Cancer, surgery and a wide range of specialties |
| Evelina London | One of only two specialist children’s hospitals in London — paediatric cardiology, surgery, fetal medicine |
| Royal Brompton | Heart & lung — minimally invasive cardiac procedures, lung cancer |
| Harefield | Complex heart & lung care, transplantation |
Private inpatients at St Thomas’ are accommodated on Howard Ward (private en-suite rooms, many with river, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben views); outpatients are seen at the Westminster Bridge Consulting Rooms; and private maternity is delivered at the Westminster Maternity Suite.
Specialties
Across the five hospitals, private care spans most major areas, including:
- Cardiology & cardiac surgery (incl. Royal Brompton/Harefield heart & lung)
- Oncology — cancer diagnosis & treatment (see also the HCA unit below)
- Orthopaedics — hip/knee replacement, joint & sports surgery
- Gastroenterology, urology, neurology
- Maternity & fetal medicine, gynaecology
- Paediatrics (Evelina London)
- ENT, ophthalmology, dermatology, plastic & reconstructive surgery
- Advanced imaging & diagnostics — MRI, CT, ultrasound
Avoid the NHS Waiting Times — Compare Top Providers Today
Health insurance can fund private treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ — often within days. Compare the UK’s top providers free in 60 seconds.
Bupa · AXA · Aviva · Vitality · WPA · The Exeter
Compare Providers★★★★★Free · Independent · 60-second quote
Why go private at Guy’s and St Thomas’?
- No NHS waiting times — fast access, often same-week for outpatients
- Choose your consultant — the same world-leading clinicians who lead the NHS services
- Full hospital backup — major-teaching-hospital facilities, including intensive care, on site
- Private comfort — en-suite rooms (some with iconic Thames views), meals and personalised care
- Seamless NHS↔private transfer if your care needs change
- Profits support the NHS — income is reinvested into the trust
It’s a strong option if you want private speed and comfort but value the safety net of a leading NHS hospital. For how combining NHS and private care works, see mixing NHS and private treatment.
Costs & how to pay
Costs are bespoke — depending on the consultant, procedure, tests and length of stay. Guy’s and St Thomas’ offers fixed-price packages for many procedures, and provides written estimates for treatment not covered by a package. As an NHS-trust private service, pricing is transparent on request. For typical ranges across providers, see our private hospital price list.
💡 Getting an accurate quote
Ask for a written, fixed-price quote covering the consultation, diagnostics, the procedure and any surgeon/anaesthetist fees. If you’re insured, confirm cover and get pre-authorisation first — see how to get a private referral. We don’t publish specific procedure prices here, as they’re bespoke and change — get a current quote from the unit.
Insurance & self-pay
Guy’s and St Thomas’ private service welcomes self-pay, privately insured and international patients, and works with the major UK insurers (Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA). As ever, access depends on your policy and hospital list:
- Check your hospital list — confirm it’s included (see the Bupa hospital list); central-London hospitals are sometimes on higher-tier lists only
- Get pre-authorisation and a referral before booking
- Self-paying? Ask about fixed-price packages
How to book private treatment
- Get a referral — most private treatment needs one (NHS or private GP); see how to get a private referral
- Contact the private service — via Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care (their official site) to book a consultation or request a quote
- Provide insurance or self-pay details — pre-authorise if insured
- Attend — same-week outpatient appointments are often available
⚠️ “Private Care at Guy’s” is a separate, HCA-run unit
Confusingly, there’s also a cancer-focused private unit called “Private Care at Guy’s”, located on the top floors of Guy’s NHS cancer centre — but this is owned and run by HCA UK’s London Bridge Hospital, not by the NHS trust’s own “Specialist Care” service. If cancer care is your need, check which service you’re dealing with. See our London Bridge Hospital guide.
The bottom line
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care offers private treatment within one of the UK’s leading NHS trusts — same world-class consultants, fast access, private comfort, and the safety net of major-hospital facilities, with profits reinvested into the NHS. Spanning five renowned London hospitals (including Evelina for children and Royal Brompton/Harefield for heart & lung), it’s a strong choice for those who want private speed without leaving a top teaching-hospital setting. Just confirm whether you need the trust’s “Specialist Care” or the separate HCA-run “Private Care at Guy’s”.
To fund treatment, compare the UK’s top health insurance providers free here, or explore other private hospitals in London.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Guy’s and St Thomas’ private healthcare called now?
The trust’s private healthcare service is now branded “Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care”. It brings together five of London’s world-leading hospitals — St Thomas’, Guy’s, Evelina London, Royal Brompton and Harefield — offering private care by the same consultants who lead the NHS services.
Do they accept self-pay patients?
Yes. You don’t need insurance to be treated privately — self-pay, privately insured and international patients are all welcome, with fixed-price packages available for many procedures and written estimates for others.
Is the care the same as the NHS side?
The clinical care is provided by the same world-class consultants who lead the trust’s NHS services, with access to the same facilities including intensive care. As a private patient you get faster access, a choice of consultant, and added comfort such as a private en-suite room.
Does health insurance cover treatment there?
Yes — the service works with the major UK insurers (Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA), though access depends on your policy and hospital list, and central-London hospitals are sometimes only on higher-tier lists. You’ll usually need a referral and pre-authorisation. Always confirm cover before booking.
Is “Private Care at Guy’s” the same thing?
No. “Private Care at Guy’s” is a separate cancer-focused private unit on the top floors of Guy’s NHS cancer centre, owned and run by HCA UK’s London Bridge Hospital — not the NHS trust’s own “Specialist Care” service. Check which one your treatment is with.
Can I get private maternity care there?
Yes — private maternity is offered at St Thomas’ Westminster Maternity Suite, providing care for mothers and babies before and after birth, including specialist care for babies with complex needs. See our private maternity guide for how private maternity cover works.
Related guides
- Other London options: London Bridge Hospital, The London Clinic, The Lister & private hospitals London
- Mixing NHS & private treatment, private cancer screening & private maternity care costs
- Private hospital price list, how to get a private referral & does insurance cover diagnostics?
- The private hospitals hub & Bupa hospital list explained
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust private patients pages & Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care official site (2026 — five-hospital service, units, specialties, profits reinvested in NHS); HCA UK (Private Care at Guy’s ownership); Doctify & Top Doctors listings
- Going Private UK independent editorial research (2026)
⚠️ Important Disclaimer & Editorial Independence
Going Private UK is an independent editorial site. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust or HCA UK. Names and trademarks belong to their respective owners, used for descriptive purposes only. This guide is general information and is not medical advice.
Services, branding, units, specialties and prices change over time — always confirm current details directly with the provider before deciding. The private service was branded “Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care” at the time of writing. We do not publish specific procedure prices as they are bespoke. Insurance recognition varies by policy and treatment. For NHS emergencies call 999 or attend an NHS A&E.
Commercial relationships: Going Private UK may receive commission when readers compare health insurance through our links — this funds independent research but does not affect our analysis.
NHS Waits
Avoid NHS Waits
Compare the UK’s top healthcare providers and get treatment privately, fast. Free & independent.
Compare providers → Independent · No obligation
