Spire South Bank Hospital, Worcester (2026): Prices, CQC Rating and Insurance
Spire South Bank Hospital is Spire Healthcare’s private hospital on Bath Road in Worcester, known for hip and knee surgery, including Worcestershire’s first robotic joint replacements, and its eye centre. This guide covers Spire’s published prices, the new September 2026 CQC rating, the free NHS route, insurance, and how to get there.
Quick Answer
Spire South Bank Hospital (139 Bath Road, Worcester, WR5 3YB · 01905 350003) is a private hospital run by Spire Healthcare, with over 30 years in Worcester. It has 25 beds, operating theatres, a day-case suite, an eye centre, MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray, endoscopy, physiotherapy and a private GP service, and it treats private and NHS patients. Parking is free.
CQC: in September 2026 the hospital was rated Requires improvement overall, down from Good, mainly because of problems with oversight of its diagnostic imaging service. Surgery and outpatients were rated Good. Details are below. For how NHS waits compare, see our NHS waiting times hub.
On this page
Spire South Bank Hospital CQC Rating (September 2026)
The Care Quality Commission inspected the hospital in April 2026 and published its report on 23 September 2026. It rated the hospital Requires improvement overall, down from the Good rating it received in 2022.
| Area | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Requires improvement |
| Safe | Requires improvement |
| Effective | Requires improvement |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Requires improvement |
| Surgery | Good |
| Outpatients | Good |
| Diagnostic imaging | Requires improvement |
Why: the CQC found the hospital did not have effective oversight of quality, safety and performance in its diagnostic imaging service. Some imaging policies had not been reviewed, and image quality audits and peer reviews were not working well. Some scanning services, including contrast CT, MRI and mammography, were temporarily paused while the hospital put a rapid improvement plan in place. If you are booking a scan there, ask whether the service you need is running normally. Surgery and outpatient care were rated Good.
Three Ways to Be Treated at Spire South Bank
- Self-pay. Spire offers fixed-price packages for many procedures, including aftercare, and finance to spread the cost. Self-pay enquiries: 01905 362 252.
- Health insurance. Your insurer pays if Spire South Bank is on your policy’s hospital list and you get pre-authorisation before booking.
- NHS referral. The hospital treats NHS patients. Your GP can often refer you there through the NHS e-Referral Service, free of charge, but you join the NHS waiting list. See how to jump the NHS waiting list.
What Spire South Bank Hospital Treats
- Bones and joints: hip and knee replacements, including Mako robotic-arm assisted total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement. South Bank was the first hospital in Worcestershire to offer it, in December 2022. See private hip replacement, private knee replacement and partial knee replacement.
- Eyes: the Spire Eye Centre, including cataract surgery. See private cataract surgery.
- Cancer investigations and treatment, with oncology and haematology services.
- General surgery, gynaecology, men’s and women’s health, and weight-loss surgery. See private hernia surgery and weight-loss surgery.
- Endoscopy: gastroscopy, colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. See private colonoscopy costs.
- Physiotherapy and a private GP service. See private physiotherapy costs.
Spire South Bank focuses on planned treatment and does not have an A&E department.
Spire South Bank Hospital Prices (2026)
Spire publishes self-pay prices on its treatment pages. The main ones for South Bank:
| Treatment | Treatment from | Including first consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Hip replacement | £15,829 | £16,043 |
| Knee replacement | £16,481 | £16,701 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | £3,160 | £3,427 |
| MRI scan (one area) | £455 | Referral needed |
Spire says its joint and cataract packages are a single fixed price covering pre-assessment tests, consultant and anaesthetist fees, nursing care, medication and food during your stay, and aftercare such as follow-up appointments and dressings for up to 14 days after you leave. A standard hip or knee replacement usually means a one- to two-night stay. Spire offers finance, with cataract surgery from about £159 a month. These are “from” prices, and your quote may differ, so ask for it in writing. Compare with our UK private hospital price list, NHS hip replacement waits and NHS cataract waits.
Scans and Diagnostics
The hospital offers MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray. An MRI of one area costs £455 self-pay, and a referral from a GP or consultant is needed before booking any scan; results go to the doctor who referred you. Because the CQC found problems in the imaging service in 2026, ask whether the scan you need is currently available. Other options nearby: private MRI in Birmingham, private mammograms and our private scan price guide. Scans and diagnostics: 01905 362 223.
Using Health Insurance at Spire South Bank
- Check your hospital list. Spire hospitals appear on most major insurers’ lists, but it depends on your policy. See the Bupa, AXA and Aviva hospital list guides, and Vitality and Spire hospitals.
- Get pre-authorisation from your insurer before booking.
- Choosing a policy? Check the hospital is on the list first. See is private health insurance worth it? and Spire vs Nuffield hospitals.
Address, Phone Numbers and Parking
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 139 Bath Road, Worcester, WR5 3YB |
| Main switchboard | 01905 350003 |
| Self-pay enquiries | 01905 362 252 |
| Outpatient bookings | 01905 362 220 |
| Scans and diagnostics | 01905 362 223 |
| Physiotherapy | 01905 362 212 |
| Eye centre | 01905 362 033 |
| Parking | Free, on site |
Numbers are from Spire’s website. Check visiting times with the ward, and arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery.
Other Private Hospitals Nearby
- Birmingham: Spire Parkway, Spire Little Aston, Nuffield Health Birmingham, Circle Priory and private hospitals in Birmingham.
- Gloucestershire: Nuffield Health Cheltenham and private hospitals in Gloucester.
Comparing hospital groups? See Spire vs Circle. Every area is listed in our private hospitals hub.
FAQs: Spire South Bank Hospital (2026)
Where is Spire South Bank Hospital?
Spire South Bank Hospital is at 139 Bath Road, Worcester, WR5 3YB, on the south side of the city. It is run by Spire Healthcare and serves Worcestershire, including Great Malvern, Evesham and Droitwich. The main phone number is 01905 350003, and parking is free.
How much does treatment cost at Spire South Bank Hospital?
Spire publishes self-pay prices for South Bank. A hip replacement starts from £15,829, or £16,043 including the first consultation; a knee replacement from £16,481, or £16,701 with the consultation; cataract surgery from £3,160 per eye, or £3,427 with the consultation; and an MRI scan of one area costs £455. The joint and cataract prices are fixed-price packages that include aftercare. Spire also offers finance.
What is Spire South Bank Hospital’s CQC rating?
In a report published on 23 September 2026, the Care Quality Commission rated Spire South Bank Hospital Requires improvement overall. Surgery and outpatients were rated Good, and the hospital was rated Good for being caring and responsive. Diagnostic imaging was rated Requires improvement because of weaknesses in how the imaging service was overseen, and some scanning services were temporarily paused while the hospital put an improvement plan in place. It had previously been rated Good in 2022.
Can NHS patients be treated at Spire South Bank Hospital?
Yes. Spire South Bank treats NHS patients as well as private patients. If your GP refers you for a procedure the hospital provides, you can often choose it through the NHS e-Referral Service at no cost, though you will join the NHS waiting list for that hospital.
Does Spire South Bank Hospital offer robotic joint replacement?
Yes. In December 2022 Spire South Bank became the first hospital in Worcestershire to offer Mako robotic-arm assisted joint replacement, for total knee, partial knee and total hip replacements. Ask the hospital whether it is suitable for you and whether the price differs from standard surgery.
Important Information
This 2026 guide is independent general information, not medical advice. Hospital details, contact numbers and prices are taken from Spire Healthcare’s Spire South Bank Hospital website in September 2026, and the rating from the Care Quality Commission’s report published on 23 September 2026; these can change, so confirm current details, service availability and a written quote with the hospital, and pre-authorisation with 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 Spire Healthcare or Spire South Bank 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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