Private Hospital Hub
Private Hospitals UK (2026): Every Hospital, Area Guide and Price Compared
This is our guide to private hospitals in the UK: area guides for more than 60 towns and cities, every Spire, Nuffield Health, Circle, Ramsay and HCA hospital we have reviewed, published prices for common treatments, the free NHS route into private hospitals, and which hospitals each health insurer covers.
Quick Answer
There are three ways into a private hospital: pay yourself with a fixed-price quote, use health insurance if the hospital is on your policy’s list, or ask your GP for an NHS referral to a private hospital at no cost. Most private hospitals are run by five groups: Spire, Nuffield Health, Circle Health Group (formerly BMI), Ramsay Health Care and HCA, plus independent hospitals in most cities.
What it costs: published guide prices in 2026 include £12,350 to £17,354 for a hip replacement, £12,650 to £17,181 for a knee replacement, £2,696 to £3,335 for cataract surgery and £525 to £609 for an MRI. See our private hospital price list. Private hospitals do not have A&E departments: for emergencies, call 999.
On this page
Three Ways to Be Treated at a Private Hospital
- Self-pay. Book a consultation, then pay a fixed price for your scan or operation, usually within weeks. Most hospitals offer 0% finance over 10 to 12 months. See private healthcare without insurance, how private treatment works and is insurance cheaper than paying direct?
- Health insurance. Your insurer pays if the hospital is on your policy’s hospital list and you get pre-authorisation first. Insurance covers conditions that start after you join; existing ones are usually excluded. See our health insurance guide and pre-existing conditions.
- NHS referral. Many private hospitals treat NHS patients through the NHS e-Referral Service. It is free, but you join the NHS waiting list for that hospital. See how to jump the NHS waiting list and do I need a GP referral?
Private Hospitals by Area
Start with your town or city. Each area guide compares every private hospital nearby, with prices, what they treat, and which insurers cover them.
London
6 guidesSouth East
21 guidesSouth West
5 guidesEast of England
6 guidesMidlands
6 guidesNorth West
12 guidesYorkshire and the North East
8 guidesWales
2 guidesScotland
2 guidesPrivate Hospitals by Group
Five groups run most of the UK’s private hospitals. Knowing the group matters because insurers’ hospital lists are often built around them, and each group publishes its prices differently. Compare them in Spire vs Nuffield Health, Spire vs Circle, Circle Reading vs Spire Dunedin and our top private healthcare providers guide.
Spire Healthcare
32 pagesThe largest group by number of hospitals, with a strong presence in most English cities, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Spire publishes guide prices for many treatments.
Nuffield Health
35 pagesA charity running hospitals across England, Wales and Scotland, often alongside its gyms. Guide prices are published hospital by hospital, usually including aftercare.
Circle Health Group (formerly BMI)
16 pagesBMI Healthcare became part of Circle Health Group in 2020, so many hospitals are still searched for under their old BMI name. Circle publishes guide prices on each hospital page.
Ramsay Health Care
11 pagesRegional hospitals with a large NHS caseload, so NHS referral is usually an option. Ramsay publishes a full price list for every hospital. See our Ramsay Health Care UK guide.
HCA Healthcare UK
10 pagesSpecialist and complex care, mostly in central London. HCA hospitals usually need an extended or London hospital list on your policy; see which insurers cover HCA.
Other London private hospitals
8 pagesIndependent and charity-run hospitals in the capital, including two of the best-known names in UK private medicine.
Other independent hospitals
14 pagesSingle-site hospitals and smaller groups around the country, several of which are the only private hospital in their town.
What Private Hospitals Charge (2026)
These are published guide prices from the hospital pages linked above, checked between September and October 2026. Ranges show the lowest and highest we found; your quote depends on the consultant and your case.
| Treatment | Published guide prices | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hip replacement | £12,350 to £17,354 | Kings Oak £12,350; New Hall £16,761; North Downs £17,354 |
| Knee replacement | £12,650 to £17,181 | Kings Oak £12,650; New Hall £16,665; North Downs £17,181 |
| Cataract surgery (one eye) | £2,696 to £3,335 | The Cavell (Enfield) £2,696; North Downs £3,185; New Hall £3,335 |
| Colonoscopy | £1,700 to £3,635 | Vista Health £1,700; North Downs £3,300; Nuffield Bristol £3,635 |
| MRI scan (one area) | £525 to £609 | Nuffield Bristol £525; Ramsay hospitals £609 |
| CT scan | £609 to £650 | Ramsay hospitals £609; Nuffield Bristol £650 |
For the full picture, see our private hospital price list, private surgery costs by procedure, what a private room costs per night, deposits and upfront fees and whether you pay upfront. Common treatment guides: hip replacement, knee replacement, cataract surgery, hernia surgery and colonoscopy. Scans are covered in our scans and tests hub, and operations in our private surgery hub.
Which Hospitals Your Insurer Covers
Every insurer has a hospital list, and most have tiers: a standard list covering most regional hospitals, and extended or London lists that add HCA and other central London hospitals for a higher premium. Check your list before you book, and get pre-authorisation.
If you are comparing policies, see best health insurance UK, is private health insurance worth it? and outpatient limits explained.
Private Hospitals vs the NHS
People choose private hospitals for speed and choice: a consultation within days, a scan within a week, and surgery within weeks, with a named consultant. On the NHS, the same pathway can take months. See our NHS waiting times hub, NHS vs private, how much time you can save and why people delay going private.
What private hospitals do not do: almost none has an A&E department, and complex emergency care stays with the NHS. See is there a private A&E? For urgent concerns call NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
How to Choose a Private Hospital
- Start with the consultant. The surgeon or specialist matters more than the building. See how to choose a private consultant.
- Get a written, fixed-price quote that lists the hospital fee, consultant and anaesthetist fees, implants, tests and follow-up appointments.
- Check the CQC rating on the hospital page. Most are Good; a few are Outstanding or Requires improvement.
- If you are insured, check your hospital list and get pre-authorisation before booking anything.
- Think about the practical side: travel for follow-ups, parking, and who will collect you after an anaesthetic.
FAQs: Private Hospitals in the UK (2026)
How much does treatment cost at a private hospital in the UK?
It depends on the procedure, the hospital and the consultant. Published guide prices in 2026 include around £12,350 to £17,354 for a hip replacement, £12,650 to £17,181 for a knee replacement, £2,696 to £3,335 for cataract surgery on one eye, and £525 to £609 for an MRI scan, based on prices published by Circle, Ramsay and Nuffield Health hospitals. Always ask the hospital for a written, fixed-price quote that says what is included.
Do I need a GP referral to go to a private hospital?
Not always. Many private hospitals let you book a consultation directly, and some scans can be booked without a referral. A GP referral helps the consultant understand your history, and most health insurers require one, plus pre-authorisation, before they pay for treatment.
Can I be treated at a private hospital on the NHS?
Often, yes. Many private hospitals treat NHS patients through the NHS e-Referral Service. Ask your GP whether you can choose a private hospital for your treatment. It is free, but you join that hospital’s NHS waiting list rather than paying for a faster private appointment.
Which private hospitals does my health insurance cover?
It depends on your policy’s hospital list. Most insurers have tiers, for example a standard list that covers most regional hospitals and an extended list that adds central London hospitals such as HCA. Check your list before booking, and get pre-authorisation. Our insurer hospital list guides explain each one.
Do private hospitals have A&E departments?
Almost none do. Private hospitals in the UK focus on planned, consultant-led care. For emergencies, call 999 or go to an NHS A&E. A small number of private urgent care services exist in London; our guide to private emergency care explains what is available.
Important Information
This 2026 guide is independent general information, not medical advice. Prices are hospital groups’ published guide prices at the time of writing and change; confirm current prices and get a written quote from the hospital, and pre-authorisation from your insurer, before booking. Private hospitals do not provide emergency care: for urgent concerns call NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999. Going Private UK is not affiliated with any hospital or insurer named. If you compare insurance quotes through this site, we may receive a commission from our FCA-regulated partners at no cost to you; this does not influence our guides.
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