North Downs Hospital, Caterham (2026): Prices, NHS Route and Insurance
North Downs Hospital is Ramsay Health Care’s private hospital on Tupwood Lane, Caterham, close to junction 6 of the M25. It has 18 beds, operating theatres for planned surgery, an endoscopy unit and on-site scans. This guide covers Ramsay’s published prices, the free NHS route, insurance, the CQC rating, visiting times and how to get there.
Quick Answer
North Downs Hospital (46 Tupwood Lane, Caterham, CR3 6DP · 01883 776 939) is a private hospital run by Ramsay Health Care UK. It offers orthopaedics, general surgery, eye surgery, gynaecology, urology, cosmetic surgery, physiotherapy and a private GP service, with X-ray, CT, ultrasound, endoscopy and colonoscopy on site. Parking is free.
Three ways in: pay yourself (guide prices below), use health insurance if North Downs is on your policy’s hospital list, or choose it through an NHS referral at no cost, on the NHS waiting list. For how NHS waits compare, see our NHS waiting times hub.
Not the vet: North Downs Hospital in Caterham is a hospital for people. It is not connected to the North Downs veterinary hospital, or to hospitals in North Down, Northern Ireland.
On this page
Three Ways to Be Treated at North Downs
- Self-pay. Book with a consultant and pay a guide price for your treatment, usually within weeks. Finance is available.
- Health insurance. Your insurer pays if North Downs is on your policy’s hospital list and you get pre-authorisation before booking.
- NHS referral. North Downs treats NHS patients who choose it through the NHS e-Referral Service. It is free, but you join the NHS waiting list for North Downs. See how to jump the NHS waiting list.
What North Downs Hospital Treats
- Orthopaedics and spine: hip and knee replacements, knee arthroscopy, ACL reconstruction, shoulder surgery, bunion surgery, back surgery and spinal injections. See private hip replacement, private knee replacement and private ACL reconstruction.
- Eyes: cataract surgery. See private cataract surgery.
- General surgery and endoscopy: hernia repair, gallbladder removal, gastroscopy and colonoscopy. See private hernia surgery and private colonoscopy costs.
- Urology: including cystoscopy, circumcision and prostate surgery (TURP and laser). See private vasectomy costs.
- Gynaecology: including hysteroscopy and hysterectomy. See private hysteroscopy.
- Physiotherapy, shockwave therapy and a private GP service. See private physiotherapy and private GPs in Surrey.
North Downs focuses on planned treatment and does not have an A&E department.
North Downs Hospital Prices (2026)
Ramsay publishes guide “from” prices for North Downs Hospital. A selection:
| Treatment | Guide price from |
|---|---|
| X-ray | £206 |
| Ultrasound | £336 |
| MRI scan (one part) | £609 |
| CT scan | £609 |
| Physiotherapy (30 minutes) | £56 |
| Gastroscopy (day patient) | £2,342 |
| Colonoscopy (day patient) | £3,300 |
| Cataract surgery | £3,185 |
| Carpal tunnel release (one wrist) | £3,397 |
| Hernia repair (keyhole, groin) | £4,806 |
| Knee arthroscopy | £5,060 |
| Bunion surgery | £5,900 |
| Gallbladder removal (keyhole) | £7,588 |
| Rotator cuff repair | £8,158 |
| ACL reconstruction | £8,546 |
| Knee replacement | £17,181 |
| Hip replacement | £17,354 |
These are guide prices, so ask the hospital for a written quote that says exactly what is included, such as consultant fees and follow-up. Ramsay offers finance, including 0% over 10 months or up to 60 months at 14.9% APR, subject to status. For example, a knee arthroscopy at £5,060 works out at £506 a month over 10 months at 0%. Compare with our UK private hospital price list.
Facilities and Scans
- 18 beds in single en-suite rooms.
- Two operating theatres, plus a day surgery theatre and an endoscopy theatre.
- Imaging: X-ray, CT and ultrasound, with MRI scans priced from £609. See private MRI in Surrey and private CT scans in Surrey.
- On site: pharmacy, private GP and physiotherapy.
Figures on beds and theatres are from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN).
Using Health Insurance at North Downs
- Check your hospital list. Bupa’s hospital finder lists North Downs on several Bupa networks, including Essential Access and Extended Choice, and most major insurers work with Ramsay hospitals, but it depends on your policy. See the Bupa, AXA and Aviva hospital list guides.
- Get pre-authorisation before booking any appointment or procedure.
- New conditions only. Insurance covers conditions that start after you join; ones you already have are usually excluded. See pre-existing conditions and is private health insurance worth it?
Directions, Parking and Visiting Times
- Address: North Downs Hospital, 46 Tupwood Lane, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6DP.
- Phone: 01883 776 939.
- By car: leave the M25 at junction 6 and take the A22 towards London.
- By train: Caterham station is about 0.7 miles away, with direct trains from East Croydon. There are taxi ranks at Caterham and Upper Warlingham stations.
- By bus: routes 400, 407 and 509.
- Parking: free on site.
- Visiting times: inpatients can have visitors up until 7.30pm, with a maximum of two at a time; day-case patients can bring one visitor.
CQC Rating and Reviews
The Care Quality Commission rates North Downs Hospital Good overall. It is rated Good for being effective, caring, responsive and well-led, and Requires improvement for being safe. Surgery and outpatients were both rated Good. The rating comes from a report published in August 2017; in July 2023 the CQC reviewed information about the hospital and found no evidence that it needed to reassess the rating.
In the latest patient survey published by PHIN, 98% of 2,855 patients said their overall experience at North Downs Hospital was good or very good. Reviews on Google and the NHS website give a more personal picture.
Other Private Hospitals Nearby
- Surrey: Spire Gatwick Park, Ashtead Hospital, private hospitals in Epsom and private hospitals in Surrey.
- London: The Blackheath Hospital and private hospitals in London.
- Kent: Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells, private hospitals in Tunbridge Wells and Kent.
Other Ramsay hospitals: Euxton Hall, Oaklands, Rowley Hall, Fitzwilliam, Winfield, Rivers, Woodland (Kettering) and the Duchy, and our Ramsay Health Care UK guide. Every area is listed in our private hospitals hub.
FAQs: North Downs Hospital, Caterham (2026)
Where is North Downs Hospital?
North Downs Hospital is at 46 Tupwood Lane, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6DP. It is run by Ramsay Health Care UK and its phone number is 01883 776 939. By car, leave the M25 at junction 6 and take the A22 towards London. Caterham station is about 0.7 miles away, with direct trains from East Croydon. Parking is free.
How much does treatment cost at North Downs Hospital?
Ramsay publishes guide prices for North Downs Hospital. They include an MRI or CT scan from £609, cataract surgery from £3,185, a colonoscopy from £3,300, a knee arthroscopy from £5,060, a knee replacement from £17,181 and a hip replacement from £17,354. Ask the hospital for a written quote. Finance is available, including 0% interest over 10 months.
Can NHS patients be treated at North Downs Hospital?
Yes. North Downs Hospital treats NHS patients who choose it through the NHS e-Referral Service, as well as insured and self-paying patients. If your GP refers you for a treatment the hospital provides, you can often choose North Downs at no cost, though you join the NHS waiting list for that hospital.
What are the visiting times at North Downs Hospital?
Ramsay says inpatients can have visitors at any time up until 7.30pm, with a maximum of two visitors at a time. Day-case patients can bring one visitor. Check with the ward if you are unsure, as arrangements can change.
What is North Downs Hospital’s CQC rating?
The Care Quality Commission rates North Downs Hospital Good overall. It is rated Good for being effective, caring, responsive and well-led, and Requires improvement for being safe. The rating comes from a report published in August 2017. In July 2023 the CQC reviewed information about the hospital and said it had found no evidence that it needed to reassess the rating.
Important Information
This 2026 guide is independent general information, not medical advice. Hospital details, visiting times and guide prices are taken from Ramsay Health Care UK’s North Downs Hospital website, the rating from the Care Quality Commission, and bed, theatre and patient survey figures from PHIN; they can change, so confirm current details 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 Ramsay Health Care UK or North Downs Hospital. 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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