An initial private consultation typically costs £150–£300, with follow-up appointments at £100–£200. Prices run higher in central London and for some specialties. You'll usually be seen within days — against an NHS median wait of 12.4 weeks for treatment pathways — and if you're insured, the fee is generally covered under your outpatient benefit.
- ✓Initial private consultations typically cost £150–£300; follow-ups £100–£200.
- ✓You're usually seen within days, against a 12.4-week NHS median wait.
- ✓Insured patients generally pay nothing beyond any excess, within outpatient limits.
Typical prices — initial and follow-up
A private consultation is a one-to-one appointment with a consultant — a senior specialist — usually lasting 20–30 minutes. Most UK consultants charge £150–£300 for an initial appointment and £100–£200 for follow-ups, with the follow-up cheaper because the history-taking is already done. Central London sits at the top of those ranges and sometimes above them; smaller cities and self-pay packages at private hospital groups often sit below.
| Specialty | Initial consultation | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopaedics (hip, knee, shoulder) | £175–£280 | £100–£180 |
| Dermatology | £150–£250 | £100–£175 |
| Cardiology | £180–£300 | £120–£200 |
| Gynaecology | £160–£280 | £100–£180 |
| ENT | £150–£250 | £100–£170 |
| Gastroenterology | £170–£280 | £110–£190 |
| Psychiatry (often longer appointments) | £250–£400 | £150–£300 |
What actually happens at a private consultation
The appointment itself will feel familiar if you've seen an NHS specialist — the difference is time and speed. Expect the consultant to take a full history, examine you, explain what they think is going on, and set out next steps. Appointments are rarely rushed: 20–30 minutes is standard, and you're seeing the consultant themselves, not a member of their team.
- Before: you'll usually need a GP referral letter — insurers generally require one, and consultants prefer one. Digital GP services included with many policies can often provide it within a day.
- During: history, examination, and a working diagnosis or a plan to reach one. Ask questions — the time is yours.
- Tests: if you need bloods, imaging or other diagnostics, these are booked separately — often within days — and billed separately too (an MRI runs £300–£500).
- After: a letter to you and your GP summarising findings and the plan: discharge, follow-up, further tests, or a treatment recommendation.
Speed is the real product. Private consultants typically offer appointments within days, sometimes same-week evening slots — while NHS pathways from referral to treatment currently run at a 12.4-week median, and 1 in 12 people wait over 38 weeks.
Insured vs self-pay: how the bill works
If you have health insurance, consultations sit under your policy's outpatient benefit. Get the claim authorised before you book — the insurer will confirm the consultant is recognised and give you a claim number — and the consultant then bills the insurer directly. You pay nothing at the appointment, beyond any excess your policy carries.
| Insured | Self-pay | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | £0 at appointment (excess may apply; outpatient limits can cap cover) | £150–£300 upfront or on invoice |
| Booking route | Insurer authorisation, then book with a recognised consultant | Book directly with hospital or consultant — no referral needed by some, preferred by most |
| Choice | Consultants recognised by your insurer; guided options may shortlist for you | Anyone with private practice |
| Watch for | Outpatient caps — a £500 limit covers roughly 2 consultations plus a test | Fees for tests and follow-ups adding up beyond the headline price |
Skip the wait for a specialist
Keeping the cost down
A few practical ways to pay less for the same appointment:
- Use fixed-price self-pay clinics. Spire, Nuffield Health, Circle and Ramsay publish self-pay consultation prices, often at the lower end of the ranges — and some run fixed-fee initial appointment offers.
- Ask about remote appointments. Video consultations are often priced below in-person ones and work well for reviews and results discussions.
- Check what your policy includes before self-paying. Many insured people self-pay unnecessarily; even capped policies usually cover the first consultations, and digital GP services are typically unlimited and free to use.
- Get test prices upfront. The consultation is £200; the pathway is what costs money. Ask what tests are likely and what each costs before agreeing to them.
If a consultation leads towards surgery, the economics change scale: a hip replacement runs £12,000–£15,000 self-pay, which is where insurance — or a hard look at self-pay packages — matters far more than the consultation fee ever did.
From consultation to treatment — what the £200 actually buys
A private consultation is worth being clear-eyed about — what it is, and what it isn't. It isn't treatment: it's the decision point that determines everything after it. A good consultation can end a worry on the spot (a significant share of appointments end in reassurance and discharge), redirect you from the wrong pathway to the right one, or fast-track you into diagnostics that would otherwise sit weeks away. The fee buys senior judgement early — which is precisely the part the NHS queue delays.
It's also entirely legitimate to mix systems. Plenty of people pay £150–£300 for a rapid private opinion, then return to the NHS for treatment with a diagnosis in hand; others start on the NHS and go private only when a wait stalls. If the consultation points towards surgery, that's the moment to compare three routes properly: staying with the NHS (free, median 12.4 weeks and often longer for orthopaedics), a self-pay package, or claiming on insurance if you hold it. The consultation letter is portable — whichever route you choose, the work done in that first half hour travels with you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a first private consultation cost in the UK?
Typically £150–£300, depending on specialty and location — orthopaedics and cardiology sit towards the upper half, and central London commands the highest fees. Psychiatry often costs more (£250–£400) because appointments are longer. Fixed-price self-pay clinics at the big hospital groups often sit at the lower end.
Why are follow-up private consultations cheaper than the initial one?
Because the heavy lifting — full history, examination, differential diagnosis — happens at the first appointment. Follow-ups review test results and progress in less time, so most consultants charge £100–£200 versus £150–£300 initially. Video follow-ups are often cheaper again.
Do I need a GP referral for a private consultation?
Usually, yes. Insurers almost always require a referral before authorising a consultation claim, and most consultants prefer one clinically. Self-payers can sometimes book directly, depending on the specialty and hospital. Digital GP services bundled with many policies can typically issue a referral within a day.
Does health insurance cover private consultation fees?
Yes, under the outpatient benefit — get the claim authorised first and the consultant bills the insurer directly, leaving you only any excess. Watch capped policies: a £500–£1,000 outpatient limit is shared with diagnostics, so consultations draw down the same pot as scans and tests.
How quickly can I get a private consultation?
Usually within days of referral — private consultants run frequent clinics, and video appointments can be sooner still. That's the core of what you're paying for: NHS referral-to-treatment pathways currently run at a 12.4-week median, with 1 in 12 people waiting over 38 weeks.
What happens at a private consultation appointment?
A 20–30 minute one-to-one with the consultant: full history, examination, a working diagnosis and a plan — discharge, tests, follow-up or treatment. Any diagnostics are booked and billed separately, and you and your GP receive a letter summarising the findings and next steps.
Are tests included in the private consultation price?
No — the quoted fee covers the appointment only. Blood panels, imaging and other diagnostics are charged separately: private blood tests commonly run £50–£200 per panel and an MRI £300–£500. Ask the consultant what tests are likely and their prices before agreeing, especially if you're self-paying.
How much does a private consultation cost in London?
Expect the top of the national ranges and beyond: initial appointments commonly £200–£300 at central-London hospitals and sometimes more with senior sub-specialists, with follow-ups £130–£200. Outer-London and Home Counties hospitals price closer to national norms — often worth the short journey for self-payers.
Is a private consultation worth it if I go back to the NHS afterwards?
Often, yes. A £150–£300 appointment buys a specialist opinion within days, and you can take the diagnosis back to the NHS for treatment — a common and legitimate route. Be aware the NHS may repeat some tests, and you'd rejoin NHS waiting lists for any procedure.