Updated April 2026
All phone numbers included
CQC rated Good · All major insurers accepted
Independent — not affiliated with Spire
Spire Bristol · South West · 2026
Spire Bristol Hospital — services, prices, insurers & how to book 2026
At a glance
Spire Bristol Hospital — known as The Glen — is the largest private hospital in the South West, located at 1 Redland Hill, Durdham Down, Bristol BS6 6UT. It serves patients across Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Wales. One of only a handful of private hospitals with a dedicated ICU (intensive care unit). All major insurers accepted including Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA. Self-pay patients can book directly without a GP referral for most diagnostic services.
Spire Bristol Hospital — contact numbers 2026
Self-pay enquiries
0117 980 4080
Treatments, consultations & bookings
Insurance (PMI) enquiries
0117 980 4070
Pre-authorised claims & insured patients
Scans & diagnostics
0117 980 4010
MRI, CT, ultrasound & X-ray bookings
Physiotherapy & sports injuries
0117 980 4022
Outpatient physio & sports rehab
General enquiries
0117 980 4000
Main switchboard
Patient helpline
0800 783 8163
Mon–Thu 8:30am–7pm · Fri 8:30am–6pm · Sat 9am–3pm
BS6 6UT
Postcode
ICU
Rare for private hospitals
100
Free parking spaces
60
Private en-suite rooms
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About the hospital
About Spire Bristol Hospital — The Glen, Durdham Down
Spire Bristol Hospital — commonly referred to as The Glen — sits at the foot of Durdham Down in the Redland area of Bristol, approximately two miles from the city centre. The hospital is the largest private hospital in the South West, serving a catchment area that spans Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Wales. It is CQC rated Good overall.
What sets Spire Bristol apart from most UK private hospitals is its clinical depth. It operates an ICU (intensive care unit) — a rarity in the private sector — making it capable of supporting more complex surgery than most independent hospitals. It also has dedicated catheter laboratories for cardiology procedures, a PET-CT scanner for oncology, a hydrotherapy pool for physiotherapy, and an on-site fertility unit offering IVF and reproductive medicine.
The hospital has 60 private en-suite rooms and 100 free parking spaces. It is easily accessible from the M4 (Junction 19) or M5 (Junction 17), and is approximately 10–15 minutes by taxi from Bristol Temple Meads station and 20–30 minutes from Bristol Parkway.
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What’s treated here
Services & specialties at Spire Bristol Hospital
Orthopaedics
Hip replacement, knee replacement, shoulder surgery, spinal surgery, sports injuries, ACL reconstruction and arthroscopy. One of the busiest orthopaedic programmes in the South West.
Cardiology
Dedicated catheter laboratories for angiography, angioplasty and stent procedures. Cardiac CT, echocardiography, heart rhythm investigations and interventional cardiology — rare at private hospital level.
Oncology
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and cancer surgery. PET-CT scanning on site. GenesisCare partnership providing integrated private cancer services in Bristol.
Neurology & neurosurgery
Brain, spine and nerve treatments including complex neurosurgical procedures. ICU on site means Spire Bristol can support cases other private hospitals cannot.
Diagnostics
MRI, CT, PET-CT, ultrasound, mammography, X-ray and on-site pathology labs. Fast access — typically days rather than the 6–18 week NHS wait for many scans.
Women’s health & fertility
Gynaecology, endometriosis, menopause clinic, breast care and a dedicated fertility unit offering IVF and reproductive medicine services.
General surgery
Hernia repair, gallbladder removal, thyroid surgery, bariatric surgery, ENT and urology. Fixed-price packages available for many common procedures.
Gastroenterology
Endoscopy, gastroscopy, colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Bupa accredited bowel care centre — one of the quality benchmarks for endoscopy services nationally.
Children & Young People
Dedicated Children and Young People’s Service — one of the few private hospitals in the South West offering inpatient paediatric care alongside adult services.
Physiotherapy
Outpatient and inpatient physiotherapy with a dedicated rehabilitation gym and hydrotherapy pool. Sports injury rehabilitation and post-surgical recovery. Call 0117 980 4022.
Intensive care unit (ICU)
One of very few private hospitals in the UK with dedicated ICU capacity. Supports complex surgery and patients who may need critical care — a significant differentiator in the South West.
Health assessments
Executive health checks, well woman and well man screenings, cardiovascular risk assessments and cancer screening programmes.
What treatment costs
Spire Bristol Hospital price guide 2026
Spire Bristol is mid-to-high range for the South West — typically less expensive than equivalent London private hospitals but higher than smaller regional community hospitals. Prices below are typical 2026 self-pay ranges for hospital facility costs. Consultant fees are always charged separately — always request a fixed-price package that includes all costs before booking.
| Treatment | Typical 2026 price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MRI scan (single area) | £500–£750 | Call 0117 980 4010 to book diagnostics directly |
| CT scan | £450–£700 | With or without contrast — confirm when booking |
| Ultrasound scan | £200–£380 | Various body areas — diagnostic ultrasound |
| Hip replacement | £13,000–£15,000 | Ask specifically about fixed-price packages |
| Knee replacement | £12,000–£14,000 | Fixed-price packages available |
| Cataract surgery | £2,500–£3,000 per eye | Standard mono-focal lens included; premium lenses extra |
| Spinal surgery | £8,500–£12,000+ | Varies significantly by procedure complexity |
| Colonoscopy | £1,200–£1,900 | Bupa accredited bowel care centre |
| Chemotherapy (per cycle) | £1,600–£2,400 | GenesisCare partnership — confirm current pricing |
| Consultant consultation | £150–£350 | Initial outpatient — billed separately from procedures |
Consultant fees are always separate. The prices above are hospital facility costs only. Your consultant, anaesthetist and radiologist charge additionally. Always ask for a written fixed-price package that bundles all costs — hospital, consultant and aftercare — before committing.
Using health insurance? Call Spire Bristol’s PMI line on 0117 980 4070 with your pre-authorisation code. AXA, Bupa, Aviva and Vitality all recognise Spire Bristol. See our pre-authorisation guide for the exact steps.
Insurance coverage
Which health insurers cover Spire Bristol?
All major UK health insurers recognise Spire Bristol Hospital. The hospital list tier in your specific policy determines your out-of-pocket cost — always confirm your plan before booking.
Bupa
Spire Bristol is on Bupa’s Extended Choice and key regional hospital lists. Bupa has also accredited the bowel care centre for endoscopy. Call the PMI line on 0117 980 4070 with your authorisation code.
AXA Health
Recognised under AXA’s directory for the Bristol region. AXA’s guided care team can recommend and book recognised consultants at Spire Bristol directly.
Aviva
Included in Expert Select and core South West coverage. Confirm your specific plan tier covers Spire Bristol using Aviva’s hospital finder before booking.
Vitality
Included in standard and extended Vitality hospital lists. Confirm eligibility in the Vitality Care Hub. Present your authorisation code to the PMI line.
WPA
Covered under WPA’s national network. Benefits vary by plan — confirm your specific outpatient cover and hospital list with WPA before booking treatment.
The Exeter, Freedom Health & Saga
All three cover Spire Bristol under their national recognised provider networks. The Exeter is popular with South West patients, particularly over-50s on individual policies.
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How to get treatment
How to book at Spire Bristol Hospital
Self-pay — no GP referral needed for most services
Call the self-pay line on 0117 980 4080 or visit spirehealthcare.com to browse consultants and book directly. For diagnostic scans (MRI, CT, ultrasound, PET-CT), call the dedicated diagnostics line on 0117 980 4010. Ask specifically about fixed-price packages and whether consultant fees are included or charged separately.
Insurance patients — pre-authorisation essential
- Get a GP referral — ask for an open referral to the specialty, not a named consultant
- Contact your insurer to request pre-authorisation before booking
- Call Spire Bristol’s PMI line on 0117 980 4070 with your authorisation code
- The hospital books your appointment and bills your insurer directly
- You pay only your policy excess — confirmed by your insurer with the authorisation
Pre-authorisation is non-negotiable. Never attend Spire Bristol on insurance without a pre-authorisation code from your insurer. See our full pre-authorisation guide including phone scripts and what information you’ll need to have ready.
Location & transport
Getting to Spire Bristol Hospital
- Address: The Glen, 1 Redland Hill, Durdham Down, Bristol BS6 6UT
- From the M5 (Junction 17): Follow the A4018 for Bristol West and Bristol Zoo for approximately 4 miles. At the roundabout with the Downs and water tower on the right, take the left into Redland Hill — the hospital is immediately on the left.
- From the M4 (Junction 19): Follow the M32 into Bristol city centre, then signs for Clifton and the A4018. At the top of Whiteladies Road, bear right for Redland.
- By train — Bristol Temple Meads: 10–15 minutes by taxi. Most central Bristol trains and GWR services stop here.
- By train — Bristol Parkway: 20–30 minutes by taxi. Useful for intercity connections from London Paddington.
- Parking: 100 free on-site car parking spaces. No registration required — unlike some hospital car parks.
Common questions
FAQs — Spire Bristol Hospital
Spire Bristol has several dedicated lines: self-pay enquiries 0117 980 4080; PMI (insurance) enquiries 0117 980 4070; scans and diagnostics 0117 980 4010; physiotherapy 0117 980 4022; main switchboard 0117 980 4000; patient helpline 0800 783 8163. Always use the line that matches your specific enquiry for the fastest response.
Spire Bristol Hospital — also called The Glen — is at 1 Redland Hill, Durdham Down, Bristol BS6 6UT, approximately 2 miles from Bristol city centre. From the M5 take Junction 17 and follow the A4018 towards Bristol Zoo. From the M4 use Junction 19 and follow signs for Clifton. Bristol Temple Meads is 10–15 minutes by taxi; Bristol Parkway is 20–30 minutes. 100 free parking spaces on site.
Yes — Spire Bristol is on Bupa’s Extended Choice and key South West regional lists. Bupa has also accredited the Spire Bristol bowel care centre for endoscopy. Confirm your specific policy’s hospital list tier when requesting pre-authorisation, and call the PMI line on 0117 980 4070 with your authorisation code when ready to book.
MRI scan prices at Spire Bristol typically range from £500 to £750 for a single body area in 2026. Call the diagnostics line on 0117 980 4010 for a current self-pay price. Insurance patients need pre-authorisation from their insurer before booking — MRI scans are typically covered subject to your outpatient limit.
Yes — Spire Bristol has a dedicated intensive care unit (ICU), making it one of only a handful of private hospitals in the UK with this capability. This means Spire Bristol can support more complex surgery and higher-risk patients than most independent private hospitals. It is one of the key reasons Spire Bristol can offer advanced cardiology, complex orthopaedics and neurosurgery that would be unavailable at smaller private facilities.
Self-pay patients can book most services at Spire Bristol without a GP referral — call 0117 980 4080. Insurance patients need a GP or consultant referral plus a pre-authorisation code from their insurer before attending. Some pathways — including Bupa Direct Access and AXA guided care for musculoskeletal conditions — can provide referrals without a traditional GP appointment.
Yes — Spire Bristol has a dedicated fertility unit offering IVF and reproductive medicine services. It is one of the few private hospitals in the South West with an on-site fertility programme. Call 0117 980 4080 to speak to the self-pay team about fertility services and current pricing. Note that fertility treatment is typically not covered by standard health insurance policies — most people self-fund IVF.
Keep reading
Related guides
Disclaimer: This guide is produced independently by Going Private UK and is not affiliated with or sponsored by Spire Healthcare or any insurer mentioned. Prices are typical 2026 ranges — always confirm directly with Spire Bristol Hospital. Insurance coverage varies by policy — always confirm your plan includes Spire Bristol before booking. Contact details correct as of April 2026. This is general information, not medical or financial advice.
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