Shutterstock/Monkey business images
Get all our latest money stories and exclusive offers direct to your inbox. Sign up here.
This article is for general guidance only and is not financial or professional advice. Any links are for your own information, and do not constitute any form of recommendation by Saga. You should not solely rely on this information to make any decisions, and consider seeking independent professional advice. All figures and information in this article are correct at the time of publishing, but laws, entitlements, tax treatments and allowances may change in the future.
If you’re facing a long NHS wait for surgery – whether it’s a hip replacement, cataract removal or hernia repair – you might be thinking of going private. If you don’t already have health insurance, taking out a policy now won’t cover an existing condition, so self-paying may be your only option.
From finding the right consultant to understanding costs and payment options, here’s how to go about it if you decide you need to fast-track your care.
What’s on this page?
More people are turning to the private sector for treatment. Figures from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) show there were more than 240,000 private hospital and clinic admissions in the first quarter of 2025 – the second highest quarterly figure on record.
Part of this is down to NHS waiting lists. Postponed operations during the pandemic saw waiting lists balloon, from 4.57 million in February 2020 to a high of 7.77 million in September 2023 (figures are for England only). And while they have fallen slightly since, to 7.40 million in July 2025, a Public Accounts Committee report on NHS England published in November 2025 found that “progress in reducing waiting times appears to have stalled”. The report said that only 59% of patients were treated within the statutory standard of 18 weeks, against a target of 92%.
Waits of more than a year are not uncommon. As of July 2025 there were nearly 192,000 people who had been waiting more than a year for care.
Financial pressures also mean that some hospitals in England are being told to cut back on the numbers of hospitals they treat, which could lead to even longer waiting times.
There are also pressures in Scotland, where waiting lists remain far higher than before the pandemic.
Adele Nelson, self-pay adviser at Nuffield Health, says: “Many patients are opting to pay privately to avoid prolonged delays for essential procedures. It also allows them to choose their preferred providers, schedule appointments at their convenience, and receive more personalised care.”
And it’s probably not surprising that the over-50s are behind this growth. Will Rowberry, chief commercial officer at Circle Health Group, says: “We’re seeing double-digit growth in the number of over-50s looking to access our services. Many are viewing it as an investment in their long-term health, supporting them to work longer and enjoy retirement when the time comes.”
If you’re worried about waiting or simply prefer to go private, a bit of research will help you find the right healthcare providers. The independent PHIN website lets you search for details on consultants and hospitals in your area.
Dr Chris Smith-Brown, clinical adviser at PHIN, suggests: “You should consider aspects such as whether the hospital or consultant you are looking at specialises in the type of treatment you are interested in and how experienced they are. Our website also contains information on patient satisfaction, number of admissions and regulator ratings as well as guides on private treatment.”
Getting the right treatment from the right consultant should be your priority, but price is likely to be a key consideration too. How much you’ll pay varies massively, depending on factors such as the type of procedure, your health and the hospital’s location. As an example, figures from PHIN show that if you need a knee arthroscopy, the fee for the procedure alone can vary from £500 to £1,547, before you even add in fees for the consultant,hospital and anaesthetist.
Given this variation in costs, Smith-Brown says it’s important to double-check what’s covered before committing to any treatment. “Some hospitals display a package price covering the cost of your treatment, but do check what’s included,” he explains. “One may include all the fees for tests, treatment, follow-up appointments, aftercare and physiotherapy while another hospital won’t.”
Doing this research can save you money, as well as some unpleasant financial surprises, but it can also be a great bargaining chip. Nuffield Health’s Nelson explains: “If you find an alternative private hospital within 15 miles of your chosen Nuffield Health hospital offering the same procedure on the same terms but at a better price, we’ll match it.”
Once you’ve found a consultant and hospital you like, the next step is to start your treatment journey.
Rowberry suggests: “Begin by booking an appointment with your consultant. Initial consultations start at around £200, depending on the specialty and, in most cases a GP referral won’t be required, although this may vary depending on medical history and the consultant and service you’re looking to access.”
When you make the appointment, it’s also a good idea to check whether the consultant will need to see any medical records, for example x-rays, scans or test results. You may be able to supply these, or the consultant may need to request them.
During the initial appointment, your consultant will discuss your condition, the type of treatment that’s most suitable and your post-operative recovery, if surgery is required. They’ll also refer you for any tests or scans that are needed.
You may be able to between NHS and private treatment to suit your needs and budget, but be aware that there are rules about whatâs allowed. As an example, you may decide to pay to have an initial consultation in the private sector to confirm a diagnosis and treatment plan, and then ask your consultant to refer you back to the NHS for surgery. Alternatively, you could start your treatment in the NHS and then pay to have the procedure done privately if there is a long waiting list.
What isnât possible is to mix and match different parts of the same treatment (or âepisode of careâ) between the NHS and private healthcare. Your NHS provider may not be able to do blood tests or other investigations that have been requested by a private consultant, or to give follow-up care (including treating non-emergency complications) from private treatment.
In some cases you might find yourself receiving NHS healthcare in the private sector. Under the NHS Choice Framework, in England you have a legal right to choose where youâre treated following a GP referral. This includes NHS hospitals, but also those in the private sector that provide services to the NHS.
You donât have to stay local, especially if you could be treated more quickly in another part of the country. Your GP can help with this decision, especially where your health issues may make it preferable to be treated in an NHS facility with an emergency department.
Planning ahead helps when it comes to paying for private treatment. Alan Barral, financial planner at Quilter, says: âStart building a dedicated cash pot as early as possible. This should be on top of your emergency fund, which is ideally six months of essential expenses.â
If you have existing investments, then cashing them in to pay for your healthcare is one option. As private healthcare bills can be chunky, Barral recommends checking the tax implications of doing this. âWithdrawals from ISAs are tax-free but, if youâre tapping into non-ISA investments, you may be liable for capital gains tax (CGT). The annual exempt amount is ÂŁ3,000 in 2025/26, with gains above this taxed at 18% or 24% depending on your income,â he explains.
âTiming disposals across tax years can help manage CGT liabilities.â
Loans might be another option, either from a commercial lender or your healthcare provider. You may even be able to secure an interest-free loan from your healthcare provider. For example, Nuffield offers 0% medical loans for up to 24 months, while Spire offers interest-free loans over 10 months. Whatever the type of loan, it's important to think carefully about whether you'll be able to pay it back.
If youâre over 55, rather than take on more debt, you could take money out of your pension. You can usually take up to 25% tax-free. This can be taken as a tax-free lump sum when you move funds into drawdown or buy an annuity. Or, if youâre not ready to make that decision, you can take an âuncrystallised fund pension lump sumâ, in which case 25% is paid tax-free with the remainder subject to tax.
Barral explains: âAnything beyond the tax-free cash is taxed as income, which also means it could push you into a higher tax bracket. Taking taxable income also triggers the money purchase annual allowance, which reduces the amount you can contribute to pensions in the future from ÂŁ60,000 to ÂŁ10,000 a year.â
Itâs important not to dip into your pension without any consideration of the impact it could have on your future. Barral adds: âThink carefully before withdrawing money from your pension to balance immediate healthcare needs with long-term retirement security.â
If you taking money from your pension isnât an option and youâre desperate to be treated more quickly than the NHS can offer, another option might be equity release, such as a lifetime mortgage, which is a long-term mortgage secured against your home. This is a significant decision with long-term consequences, so needs to be considered carefully. You can read more about the different types of equity release.
These are guide prices for some common types of private medical treatment.
| Procedure | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
|
Cataract surgery (one eye) |
£1,995 |
£3,860 |
|
Knee replacement |
£10,195 |
£17,840 |
|
Hip replacement |
£10,761 |
£17,600 |
|
Hernia repair |
£2,500 |
£6,100 |
|
Bunion correction |
£4,599 |
£7,705 |
Provided by HUB Financial Solutions Limited
Find out all you want to know about equity release with expert advice.
Get quicker diagnosis and treatment with nationwide private hospital options. Thereâs no upper age limit and you wonât need a medical.
It’s one of the biggest retirement decisions you’ll make. Here’s how to get it right.
We break down the numbers to show you the retirement lifestyle your pension pot could actually provide.
From the choice of investments to charges and service, we explain the key things to consider
.jpg?la=en&h=354&w=616&hash=1254A3F816E81965A47EA68E3AEC9F7A)