My Medical Gateway Blog

With NHS waiting lists for orthopaedic procedures reaching record highs – over 7.6 million people are awaiting hospital treatment – private healthcare has become an essential alternative for those needing timely care for hips, knees, backs, and spines. 

The UK’s leading private medical groups offer world-class orthopaedic treatments but compared to Europe, where the private medical sector is much larger, the costs of treatment are high. Prices also vary significantly depending on the provider, procedure, and location, and generally do not include post-op therapy to get you back on your feet, which is a separate additional cost that patients need to factor in.

This brief explores the top six private healthcare providers in the UK, their specialities, and the typical prices for common orthopaedic surgeries.  

BUPA is the No. 1 private health insurer in the UK** and operates its own network of hospitals and clinics . It offers comprehensive orthopaedic care, including hip and knee replacements, spinal surgery, and sports injury treatments.  A Hip or Knee Replacement may be up to £12,000, Spinal Fusion Surgery up to £15,000 and Arthroscopic Knee Surgery up to £6,000. BUPA’s insurance policies often cover these treatments, but self-pay options are available for walk-ins. 

Spire Healthcare at no. 2 is one of the largest private hospital groups in the UK, with 39 hospitals specialising in orthopaedics, spinal surgery, and sports medicine. It currently works closely with the NHS to reduce waiting times for joint replacements.  A Total Hip or Knee Replacement is up to £13,000, Microdiscectomy (Spine) up to £10,000 and a Shoulder Replacement up to £15,000.  

Spire’s NHS partnerships mean some patients who are close to the end of the waiting list can access private care funded by the NHS, reducing out-of-pocket costs. What spaces are limited because the NHS has reportedly capped the price that it pays to provide surgeries to NHS patients.

Nuffield Health is a “not-for-profit” provider and operates private hospitals and wellness centres across the UK, with strong outcomes for joint and spinal surgeries. Hip Resurfacing costs up to £12,500, a Partial Knee Replacement up to £11,000, Lumbar Decompression (Spine) up to £10,000 and ACL Reconstruction up to £8,000.  Unlike most UK hospital groups, Nuffield also offers post-operative rehab programmes, which are crucial for recovery after orthopaedic surgery.  

The Circle Health Group (formerly BMI Healthcare) is a leading private hospital network with centres of excellence in orthopaedics, spinal surgery, and sports injuries. At circle, a Hip Replacement will cost up to £12,000, Spinal Disc Replacement up to £18,000 and Rotator Cuff Repair up to £8,000. Circle’s NHS collaboration allows some patients to receive private treatment without full self-pay costs but again, spaces are limited.

Ramsay Health Care is a global healthcare provider with 33 hospitals in the UK specialising in orthopaedics and neurological services. A Total Hip or Knee Replacement costs up to £12,000, Spinal Fusion up to £15,000 and Ankle Fracture Repair up to £6,000  

Much smaller in terms of size, HCA UK operates six elite private hospitals, including The Wellington Hospital, one of Europe’s largest private orthopaedic centres. It attracts top surgeons and offers cutting-edge robotic-assisted joint replacements. But luxury accommodation and hi-tech comes at a price. Robotic Hip Replacement will set you back up to £18,000, Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery up to £20,000, Complex Knee Reconstruction up to £15,000 and Shoulder Arthroscopy up to £8,000.

What are the Key Considerations When Choosing a Private Orthopaedic Provider for Self-Pay?

1. Self-Pay costs are high compared to Europe and prices vary significantly by hospital group, surgery and geographical location, so you will need to do your research carefully. You first need to understand exactly what you must pay, including travel and costs for your diagnostic examination, and then ask yourself how you are going to get home after your surgery.
2. Some private hospital groups with NHS Partnerships – Spire, Circle, and Ramsay – may be helping the NHS to reduce the waiting list, but that means there are less beds for private patients. Remember that capacity in UK Private hospitals is strictly limited since it occupies only a small part of the overall medical healthcare sector.
3. Post-Op Care – while Nuffield and Spire offer strong rehab programmes, these come at an extra price, and you are going to need to find accommodation nearby while you undergo physiotherapy. Many private hospital groups in the UK do not provide post-op care that is something you are going to need to organise for yourself.

Conclusion

The UK’s top private healthcare providers – BUPA, Spire, Nuffield, Circle, Ramsay, and HCA – offer high-quality orthopaedic care at varying price points. With NHS waiting lists at record levels, private treatment is a viable option for those who can afford to pay for hip, knee, back, or spinal surgery without excessive delays.  But for many, including the many tens of thousands of blue-collar and skilled workers who are not even listed on the NHS waiting list because they are “too young” to be considered for treatment, UK private healthcare prices are simply out of reach. Yet this is the group that forms the backbone of the economy and most needs to get back to work quickly. 

Now that you have read up about what is available in the UK private healthcare sector, why don’t you get a quote on MMG’s platform? See the prices, make the booking and get on the road to recovery in a beautiful European location of your choice.