Spire Montefiore Hospital Hove (Brighton): Treatments, Prices & Insurance
Researching the Spire Montefiore Hospital? It’s one of the few private hospitals in England rated Outstanding by the CQC — a boutique 20-room hospital in the heart of Hove serving Brighton and the whole of Sussex. This guide covers what it treats, how the fixed self-pay pricing works, which insurers it works with, and how it compares to the city’s other private hospital — so you can decide with confidence.
Quick Answer
The Spire Montefiore Hospital (2 Montefiore Road, Hove, BN3 1RD — walking distance from both Hove and Brighton stations) is a CQC Outstanding-rated private hospital with 20 private en-suite rooms and 3 operating theatres, opened in 2012 as Spire’s 38th hospital. It covers most major specialties — orthopaedics (including robotic-assisted joint replacement), cancer care, gastroenterology, ENT, cardiology, women’s and men’s health — plus MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray on site.
It accepts insured, self-pay and NHS patients. Self-pay works on Spire’s fixed-price model: consultation first, then one all-in quote with no surprise bills. It’s recognised by major insurers including Bupa. Full details, costs and the comparison with Nuffield Brighton below.
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About the Hospital & Facilities
The Montefiore opened in November 2012 as Spire Healthcare’s 38th hospital, created through an award-winning conversion of a landmark Hove building — the refurbishment won “Best Refurbishment” at the Acumen Commercial Property Awards and achieved a “very good” BREEAM energy rating, with a £1 million MRI scanner installed from the start. The result is a deliberately boutique-scale hospital rather than a sprawling one.
| Facility | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 20 private rooms, each with en-suite, TV and WiFi |
| Theatres | 3 operating theatres, with laminar flow for orthopaedic surgery |
| Surgical technology | Robotic-assisted systems for orthopaedic procedures, including joint replacements |
| Imaging on site | MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, mammography and cardiac MRI |
| Clinics | One-stop breast clinic, varicose vein assessment clinic, private GP services |
| A&E | None — this is a planned-care hospital, not an emergency one |
One honest note on the small size: the Montefiore doesn’t have an intensive care unit, so in the unlikely event a patient’s needs escalate beyond what it can manage, care is transferred — usually to the NHS. That’s standard for private hospitals of this scale and worth knowing going in.
The Outstanding CQC Rating — Why It Matters
The Care Quality Commission rates hospitals across five areas — safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led — on a four-level scale, and Outstanding is the top of it. Most hospitals, private or NHS, are rated Good; Outstanding is genuinely uncommon, and the Montefiore holds it for its hospital care (report published July 2021). For patients choosing between private hospitals in Sussex, this is the single strongest independent signal of quality the Montefiore has — it isn’t the hospital’s own marketing, it’s the regulator’s verdict. You can read the full inspection history on the CQC website.
Treatments & Specialties
Despite its boutique size, the Montefiore is a multidisciplinary hospital covering most of the conditions people commonly go private for:
| Specialty | Examples of what’s offered |
|---|---|
| Bones & joints | Hip replacement, knee replacement, back and spinal surgery — with robotic assistance available |
| Cancer care | Cancer tests and investigations, chemotherapy, one-stop breast clinic, survivorship support |
| Gastroenterology | Colonoscopy and other endoscopic investigations, hernia and gallbladder surgery |
| Heart | Cardiology investigations including cardiac MRI |
| ENT | Ear, nose and throat assessment and surgery |
| Women’s & men’s health | Gynaecology including laparoscopy, mammography, dedicated men’s health services |
| Cosmetic | Cosmetic procedures including breast enlargement |
| Diagnostics & GP | MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, blood tests and pathology, private GP appointments |
If you’re comparing what these procedures typically cost across the UK before speaking to a hospital, our national guides are a useful benchmark: private hernia surgery costs, private colonoscopy costs and hip replacement waits and costs all cover the typical ranges to expect. For scans specifically, see our private MRI in Brighton guide, and for blood work, private blood tests in Brighton.
Costs & How Self-Pay Works
Spire publishes guide prices for common procedures at the Montefiore on its website, and — refreshingly — the self-pay model is built around one fixed price with no surprise bills. Here’s how it works in practice:
- Initial consultation first. You book an appointment with your chosen consultant (you won’t always need a GP referral — the hospital tells you when one’s required). The consultation, and any diagnostic tests the consultant recommends, are charged separately at this stage.
- Then a single fixed-price quote. Once your consultant knows what treatment you need, the hospital gives you one all-in price covering pre-assessment tests, the procedure, consultant and anaesthetist fees, nursing care, medication and food during your stay, and any standard prosthesis.
- Aftercare is included. The quote also covers post-discharge care — follow-up consultations and physiotherapy visits as set out in your treatment letter, removal of stitches, dressing changes, and medication for up to 14 days after you leave.
Exact figures are personal to you because consultant and anaesthetist fees are set independently and quotes reflect your medical history — so it’s safest to treat published “from” prices as a floor, not a promise. Finance is available through Spire’s credit partner (Omni Capital Retail Finance), including plans that spread the cost. If you’re weighing up self-pay against insurance more broadly, our guides on going private without insurance and the cheapest ways to go private walk through the trade-offs honestly.
Health Insurance at the Montefiore
The Montefiore treats insured, self-pay and NHS patients. On the insurance side, it’s recognised by major UK insurers — it appears on Bupa’s approved facility lists, for example, and Spire hospitals sit on the standard hospital lists most big insurers use. Two practical things matter before you book:
- Pre-authorise everything. Confirm with your insurer that the Montefiore and your specific consultant are covered under your policy, and get an authorisation number before treatment. Some policies use restricted hospital lists, and some insurers require a GP referral before authorising a claim.
- Check your outpatient cover. Consultations, scans and physiotherapy sit under outpatient limits on most policies — the part of a policy that varies most between insurers and price points.
If you’re insured with Vitality, it’s worth reading our guide to how Vitality works with Spire and Nuffield hospitals. And if you don’t yet have cover, our honest take on whether private health insurance is worth it is the right place to start — followed by a free quote comparison to see real prices for your age and situation.
Montefiore vs Nuffield Health Brighton
For most people in the city, the private hospital choice comes down to two names: the Spire Montefiore in Hove and Nuffield Health Brighton Hospital on the Woodingdean side. The honest comparison: both are established full-service private hospitals, and for many treatments your choice will actually be driven by where your preferred consultant practises — many Sussex consultants hold clinics at both. The Montefiore’s distinctive cards are its Outstanding CQC rating, its central, station-walkable location, and the robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgery; Nuffield counters with its own strengths and the not-for-profit Nuffield model. Our Spire vs Nuffield guide compares the two groups nationally, and our private hospitals in Brighton & Hove hub covers the full local picture. If you’d rather see a consultant slightly further afield, the nearest other Spire hospital is Spire Gatwick Park in Horley, about 25 miles north.
Address & Getting There
The Spire Montefiore Hospital, 2 Montefiore Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1RD. Main number: 01273 828 120. The location is one of its best features — in the heart of Hove, within walking distance of both Hove and Brighton railway stations, with several bus routes stopping nearby. Driving from the A27, take the A2038 exit toward Hove/Devil’s Dyke, follow Dyke Road Avenue, then turn onto Highdown Road and left onto Montefiore Road. If you need a private GP appointment rather than hospital treatment, the Montefiore runs private GP services on site — and our private GPs in Brighton guide covers the city’s other options too.
FAQs: Spire Montefiore Hospital (2026)
Is the Spire Montefiore Hospital in Hove or Brighton?
Both, in a sense — which is why you’ll see it written both ways. The hospital’s address is 2 Montefiore Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1RD, so it is physically in Hove, but Hove is part of the city of Brighton and Hove, and the hospital serves patients from across Brighton, Hove and the wider Sussex area. It sits in the heart of Hove within walking distance of both Hove and Brighton railway stations, with several bus routes stopping nearby, so it is easy to reach from anywhere in the city. If you are searching for a private hospital in Brighton, the Montefiore is one of the main options, alongside Nuffield Health Brighton Hospital on the other side of the city.
How many beds does the Spire Montefiore Hospital have?
The Montefiore Hospital has twenty private bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities, a TV and WiFi, alongside three operating theatres — including laminar flow theatres used for orthopaedic surgery — and extensive outpatient and diagnostic facilities. It is a boutique-scale hospital rather than a large one, which many patients see as a positive: it opened in November 2012 as Spire Healthcare’s 38th hospital, in a carefully converted landmark building, and the smaller size goes hand in hand with the personal feel that helped it earn its Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission. Note that the hospital does not have an A&E department, and in the rare event a patient needs intensive care, treatment is transferred, usually to the NHS.
How much does treatment cost at the Spire Montefiore Hospital?
Spire publishes guide prices for common procedures at the Montefiore on its website, and the self-pay model works in two stages. First you pay for an initial consultation with your chosen consultant, plus any diagnostic tests they recommend, which are charged separately. After that, the hospital gives you a single fixed-price quote for your treatment, covering pre-assessment tests, the procedure itself, consultant and anaesthetist fees, nursing care, medication and food during your stay, and any standard prosthesis, plus aftercare including follow-up and physiotherapy as set out in your treatment letter and medication for up to 14 days after discharge. Because consultant fees vary and quotes depend on your medical history, the exact figure is personal to you. Finance options are available through Spire’s credit partner, including the option to spread the cost.
Does the Spire Montefiore Hospital accept health insurance and NHS patients?
Yes on both counts. The Montefiore treats patients using private medical insurance and is recognised by major UK insurers — it appears on Bupa’s approved facility lists, for example — though always confirm with your insurer that both the hospital and your chosen consultant are covered under your specific policy before booking, and obtain pre-authorisation for treatment. Self-paying patients are equally welcome under Spire’s fixed-price model, and the hospital also treats NHS patients for some services. You won’t always need a GP referral to book an initial private consultation, though the hospital will let you know when one is required, and some insurers do require a GP referral before they will authorise a claim.
Important Information
This 2026 guide is independent general information, not medical or financial advice — Going Private UK is not affiliated with Spire Healthcare or the Montefiore Hospital. Hospital services, facilities, consultants and prices change; details here reflect published information at the time of writing, so always confirm current services, prices and insurer recognition directly with the hospital and your insurer before booking. Private health insurance covers new, acute conditions, never pre-existing conditions, and emergencies go to the NHS — call 999 in an emergency. If you compare private health 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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