A private neurologist typically charges £300–£400 for an initial consultation — above most specialties — and £150–£250 for follow-ups. The NHS neurology median wait is 14.0 weeks, with 1 in 12 waiting over 38.9 weeks. Tests add up: an MRI runs £300–£500 and nerve conduction studies £300–£600.
- ✓Initial private neurology consultations typically cost £300–£400; follow-ups £150–£250.
- ✓NHS neurology median wait is 14.0 weeks; 1 in 12 wait over 38.9 weeks.
- ✓An MRI adds £300–£500; nerve conduction studies £300–£600.
What a private neurologist costs — and why it's more
Neurology carries a specialty premium: expect £300–£400 for an initial consultation against the £250–£350 typical elsewhere, with follow-ups at £150–£250. The reasons are simple — there are relatively few consultant neurologists in the UK, demand outstrips them, and a proper neurological assessment takes time: initial appointments commonly run 30–45 minutes because the examination itself is longer and the history matters more than in almost any other specialty.
| Appointment or test | Typical private cost |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation | £300–£400 |
| Follow-up consultation | £150–£250 |
| MRI scan (brain or spine, per region) | £300–£500 |
| Nerve conduction studies / EMG | £300–£600 |
| EEG (brainwave test) | £300–£500 |
| Blood panel (neurological screen) | £100–£250 |
The waiting times picture
The NHS neurology median is currently 14.0 weeks from referral to treatment — one of the longest of any specialty — and 1 in 12 patients wait over 38.9 weeks. On top of that, any MRI or nerve study joins the diagnostics queue, where roughly 1 in 4 NHS tests wait over six weeks. For symptoms that feel neurological, that combination is uniquely hard psychologically: the mind fills a long diagnostic silence with worst cases.
Privately, the sequence compresses to weeks: a consultation typically within days (video first appointments are common in neurology), an MRI within days of that, and a results discussion inside a fortnight. Most private neurology work-ups end in reassurance or a treatable diagnosis — migraine being by far the most common outcome of headache referrals.
Insured vs self-pay
With health insurance, neurology consultations, MRIs, EEGs and nerve studies all sit under your outpatient benefit — which makes neurology one of the specialties where a capped outpatient policy runs out fastest, since a £350 consultation and a £600 MRI can exhaust a £1,000 limit before the follow-up. Full outpatient cover earns its keep here.
| Insured | Self-pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation + MRI + follow-up | £0 beyond any excess, within outpatient limits | £800–£1,400 |
| Nerve studies / EEG | Usually covered as diagnostics | £300–£600 |
| Ongoing condition management | Chronic conditions (e.g. MS, epilepsy long-term) generally revert to the NHS | Follow-ups at £150–£250 each |
| Watch for | Capped outpatient limits; existing symptoms excluded as pre-existing | Repeat scans multiplying the bill |
Get neurological symptoms answered in weeks
What happens at a private neurology appointment
Neurology is the specialty where the story is the diagnosis: expect detailed questions about exactly what happens, when it started, what triggers it and how it evolves — for headaches, a diary of attacks is genuinely useful preparation. Then a hands-on neurological examination: reflexes, strength, sensation, coordination, eye movements. It looks low-tech; it's doing a lot of diagnostic work. If your episodes are visible — a tremor, an unusual movement, a funny turn — a phone video from a family member is often worth more than any scan.
- Before: you'll usually need a GP referral — insurers require one, and neurologists want your history and any prior scans. Bring a symptom diary if you can.
- Common referrals: chronic or worsening headache and migraine, tingling or numbness (often carpal tunnel or peripheral neuropathy), dizziness, tremor, memory concerns and unexplained episodes.
- Tests: targeted, not scattergun — MRI for headache red flags or suspected structural causes, nerve conduction studies for hand and foot symptoms, EEG for suspected seizures.
- After: a results follow-up, a letter to you and your GP, and a treatment plan — migraine prevention, neuropathy treatment or referral onwards — that your NHS GP can often continue prescribing.
- Bring a witness if you can: for blackouts, seizures or memory concerns, an account from someone who saw the episode is often the single most useful piece of evidence in the room.
Is a private neurologist worth £300–£400?
For the two commonest referrals — headache and nerve symptoms — the value is usually the speed of a settled answer. Chronic migraine diagnosed and treated in a fortnight instead of six months changes that whole stretch of life; carpal tunnel confirmed by nerve studies for around £600 all-in leads straight to a cheap, quick fix. And where the worry is something serious, a normal MRI reviewed by a consultant neurologist is the most effective anxiety treatment money can buy. The letter and images transfer to your NHS record either way — the diagnosis is portable even if you never spend privately again.
- Use video for the first appointment where offered. Neurology's history-heavy assessments translate well to video, often at slightly lower fees — and it widens your choice of consultant beyond your region, which matters in a shortage specialty.
- Ask about scan packages. Standalone imaging centres often price MRI below hospital rates; your neurologist can refer to either.
- Move prescribing home. Migraine prevention and neuropathy medication are routine NHS GP prescribing once the specialist sets the plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private neurologist cost in the UK?
Typically £300–£400 for an initial consultation — above most specialties, reflecting the shortage of consultant neurologists and longer 30–45 minute assessments — and £150–£250 for follow-ups. Tests are billed on top: an MRI runs £300–£500 and nerve conduction studies £300–£600.
How long is the NHS wait to see a neurologist?
The NHS neurology median is currently 14.0 weeks from referral to treatment — among the longest of any specialty — and 1 in 12 patients wait over 38.9 weeks, with MRI and nerve studies adding a separate diagnostics queue. Privately, a consultation is typically available within days.
Why do private neurologists cost more than other consultants?
Supply and time. The UK has relatively few consultant neurologists for the demand, and initial neurological assessments run 30–45 minutes because the detailed history and hands-on examination carry most of the diagnostic weight. That pushes initial fees to £300–£400 against a typical £250–£350 elsewhere.
Do I need a GP referral to see a private neurologist?
Usually, yes. Insurers require a referral before authorising a neurology claim, and consultants want your GP history and any previous scans or tests. Digital GP services included with many policies can typically issue a referral within a day, which suits neurology's video-friendly first appointments.
Should I see a private neurologist for headaches?
Headache is the most common private neurology referral. Most turn out to be migraine or tension-type — very treatable — and a consultation plus MRI (around £800–£1,100) settles both the diagnosis and the anxiety within a fortnight. Sudden, worst-ever headache is a 999 matter, not a private booking.
How much are nerve conduction studies privately?
Typically £300–£600, often combined with EMG in one session — the standard test for tingling, numbness or weakness in the hands and feet, and the definitive way to confirm carpal tunnel syndrome or peripheral neuropathy. They're usually covered as diagnostics under a policy's outpatient benefit.
Does health insurance cover private neurologist fees?
Yes — consultations, MRIs, EEGs and nerve studies all sit under outpatient cover, which makes neurology a specialty where full (uncapped) outpatient benefit matters most. Existing symptoms are excluded as pre-existing on new policies, and long-term management of chronic diagnoses generally reverts to the NHS.
What happens at a private neurology appointment?
A 30–45 minute assessment: a detailed history of exactly what happens and when — bring a symptom diary — then a hands-on examination of reflexes, strength, sensation, coordination and eye movements. Tests such as MRI or nerve studies are booked as needed, with a results follow-up and a letter to your GP.
Will a private neurologist order an MRI at the first appointment?
Only if it's clinically warranted — MRI is the workhorse for headache red flags and suspected structural causes, but many diagnoses, migraine included, are made from history and examination alone. If one is ordered, private slots are typically available within days at £300–£500 per region scanned.
Can I go back to the NHS after a private neurology diagnosis?
Yes — the consultant's letter and your scan images transfer to your NHS record, and NHS teams generally accept private diagnostics without repeating them. For chronic conditions such as MS or epilepsy, long-term care usually moves to NHS specialist services anyway; the private fee bought the faster diagnosis.