Why is private healthcare so expensive?

How expensive is private healthcare in the UK?

The answer to this depends on the type of surgery needed. For example, knee replacement surgery at Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group costs £13,149, whereas the cost of cataract surgery with the same provider is £1,995.

Costs can also vary depending on location and area in the UK. For example, hip replacement surgery at Nuffield’s Woking hospital is priced at £17,005. The same procedure at Nuffield’s Derby hospital £15,164.

The table below provides an illustration of how prices of various different types of treatments differ across healthcare providers.

Name of hospital	Cataract surgery	Hip replacement surgery	Knee replacement surgery	Hernia repair surgery	Carpal tunnel surgery
Practice Plus Group	£1,995	£12,549	£13,149	£3,299	£2,249
Nuffield Health	Derby: £3,170 Bristol: £3,745	Derby: £15,164 Bristol: £15,070	Derby: £14,915 Bristol: £16,320	Derby: £4,004 Bristol: £3,920	Derby: £3,040 Bristol: £2,850
Spire Healthcare	Nottingham: £3,125 Bristol: £5,281	Nottingham: £15,420 Bristol: £15,822	Nottingham: £15,768 Bristol: £16,550	Nottingham: £3,820 Bristol: £3,230	Nottingham: £1,903 Bristol: £2,821
Circle Health	Nottingham: £5,338 Bath: £3,100	Nottingham: £15,242 Bath: £13,500	Nottingham: £14,688 Bath: £14,250	Nottingham: N/A Bath: N/A	Nottingham: £1,931 Bath: £2,200

Why is private healthcare so expensive in the UK?

It’s a good question but one that should perhaps be looked at from a slightly different perspective. While the cost of private medical treatments may, at first, seem high, this doesn’t take into account the main factors driving people to seek alternatives to their healthcare. Rising NHS waiting times, increased access to private healthcare through finance plans, access to top-quality consultants, and simply wanting to get on with life are just a few reasons people increasingly consider choosing private healthcare.

Some of the reasons that healthcare costs are what they are include the following reasons:

• Hospital location – the cost of running a private hospital varies depending on location within the UK. Patients seeking treatment in London can expect to pay more than other areas of the country
• Treatment type – cost varies depending on treatment type. Cataract patients can expect their treatment to be much cheaper than a hip replacement, mostly because cataract surgery is typically more straightforward than hip replacement
• Cost of medical equipment and medicine – as technology advances, private healthcare providers need to invest to keep up with the latest equipment. This is often an expensive undertaking
• Consultant and staff costs – consultants with more clinical and surgical experience than others will typically be able to charge more for their skills. At Practice Plus Group however, the cost of an initial consultation is fixed at £95 no matter the treatment type
• Insurance – private hospitals need to protect themselves due to the risks of carrying out surgery. Insurance policies to protect against these possibilities can be a costly undertaking.

The Wild West of consultant fees

While we’re not talking consultants atop horses using their stethoscopes as lassos, there is an unmistakable level of uncertainty when it comes to consultant fees. This is because most private healthcare providers allow their specialists to set their own consultation fees. These are often based on the level of experience the consultant has, so the longer a consultant has been in the game, the more a patient is likely to be charged for their expertise.

However, at Practice Plus Group, the cost of seeing a private consultant is £95. This is regardless of hospital location, treatment type, and the experience level of the consultant.

Hospital charges and location

The cost of running a private hospital varies depending on location within the UK. For example, patients seeking private treatment up north are likely going to pay less than their counterparts in London.

Advanced medical technology, equipment, and medicines

With technology advancing at an unprecedented rate, the need among private healthcare providers to keep pace with the latest equipment is extremely important. The same goes for providing the latest and most effective medicine for patients.

Operational and administrative costs

Running a private hospital is an expensive business. Not only do private healthcare providers need to protect themselves with costly insurance policies, they also need to pay rent on properties that are often large and in the centre of towns and cities. Staff payroll and general operational costs also play a big part in the prices patients pay for their treatment.

What makes Wellsoon private surgery so affordable?

While affordability is a subjective term, there’s no getting away from the fact that when compared directly to our closest competitors, Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group is the more affordable option for the majority of treatments. Below, we explore the reasons why.

Employed consultants mean a fixed price consultation fee

At Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, all our consultants are employed on a contractual basis. This means that, just like an office worker, they take a monthly salary. It’s because of this system that we can provide our patients with full transparency when it comes to our pricing. A £95 surgery consultation costs just that – £95. There are no hidden extras or unwanted charges.

The same excellent NHS service, fast-tracked

With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of NHS treatment but without the extensive waiting lists. While some NHS patients are waiting months or even years for their treatment, at Wellsoon, it’s 1-2 weeks for your initial consultation, followed by a 4-6 week wait for your treatment.

While we don’t skimp on patient comfort, we also don’t offer Eiderdown pillows and 18 tog duvets for those staying overnight with us post-surgery. The reason for this is to keep costs affordable for our patients.

Exceptional care

We offer an exceptional level of care and if you’re staying overnight with us (for example, for a hip or knee replacement), we’ll make your stay with us a comfortable, positive experience through exceptional care from our whole team.

Our Wellsoon patients usually get a private room if they want one, but we’re a friendly bunch and at some of our hospitals we have small, quiet bays where you can chat with someone else going through a similar op. If having a private room is important to you, just let us know when you book and we’ll do our best to accommodate, subject to availability.

Fixed-price surgery for any postcode

With Wellsoon, there are no postcode premiums. Unlike other private healthcare providers, no matter which of our hospitals you choose, you’ll pay the same price for your surgery.

Our private hospital pricelist – 2025

The table below provides the cost of our main treatments. For a full breakdown of our private surgery costs, please see the Prices page on our website.

Treatment type	Cost
Hip replacement surgery	£12,549
Knee replacement surgery	£13,149
Cataract surgery	£1,995
Hernia repair surgery	£3,299
Carpal tunnel surgery	£2,249

Is it worth paying for private healthcare in the UK?

The answer to this varies from patient-to-patient as it needs to take into account external factors and personal circumstances.

External factors such as National Health Service waiting times and consultant expertise are both things beyond a patient’s control but there are workarounds. Traveling elsewhere for NHS treatment can serve to mitigate the amount of time patients need to wait for treatment but it isn’t necessarily an all-encompassing solution.

Personal circumstances range from a patient’s financial situation (e.g. their financial ability to cover private treatment) to their need for surgery to improve their mental health. To remedy this, private hospital waiting times are often much shorter than those on the NHS. For these people wanting to get their health – and lives – back on track, private healthcare represents an option that’s thoroughly worthwhile.

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Patient testimonial

“I would certainly recommend anyone currently experiencing a long wait for an NHS scan to claim on their health cover or pay for a private diagnostics appointment with Practice Plus Group for a speedier ultrasound and added peace of mind.”

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Is private health insurance worth it?

As with the answer to the question above, the answer is subjective and depends on personal circumstances. For some, paying for surgery with private health insurance can represent a useful option, especially if they’ve got a pre-existing policy that covers their condition. Before taking out private medical insurance, you should make sure you’re able to keep up with the premiums and conditions of payment.

Access the most affordable private surgery in the UK

Wellsoon private healthcare is available for patients wishing to fund their own treatment. This means access to private treatment is through self-payment or private medical insurance. Finance options are available to spread the cost, if you prefer.