DataBy Oliver O'Hara · Prices checked September 2026

UK Private Treatment Price Index 2026

Name: UK Private Treatment Price Index 2026
Creator: Oliver O'Hara
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What it costs to pay privately for 14 common treatments in the UK, compiled from prices published by private hospitals and the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN). Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to use it with a credit and link.

£13,500–£20,000Typical self-pay price of a knee replacement, the most expensive treatment in the index

11–16 yearsof average premiums for an over-60 (£102.40 a month, Bupa, May 2026) would pay for one knee replacement

34published hospital and PHIN prices checked, September 2026

The index

Treatment	Typical self-pay price	Equivalent months of over-60 premiums	Prices checked
Hip replacement Orthopaedics	£13,000–£19,000	127–186 months	4	Full guide →
Knee replacement Orthopaedics	£13,500–£20,000	132–195 months	4	Full guide →
Cataract surgery Eyes	£2,000–£4,000 per eye	20–39 months	3	Full guide →
Inguinal hernia repair General surgery	£3,000–£5,500	29–54 months	2	Full guide →
MRI scan Diagnostics	£250–£700 per body part	2–7 months	2	Full guide →
Colonoscopy Diagnostics	£2,000–£3,500	20–34 months	3	Full guide →
Gastroscopy (upper endoscopy) Diagnostics	£1,400–£2,700	14–26 months	3	Full guide →
Gallbladder removal General surgery	£6,500–£10,500	63–103 months	2	Full guide →
Carpal tunnel release Orthopaedics	£1,800–£3,300 per hand	18–32 months	2	Full guide →
Knee arthroscopy Orthopaedics	£3,500–£6,500	34–63 months	2	Full guide →
Varicose vein treatment Vascular	£1,800–£3,500 per leg	18–34 months	3	Full guide →
Adult tonsillectomy Ear, nose and throat	£2,500–£4,500	24–44 months	2	Full guide →
Private GP appointment Primary care	£60–£150	1 month or less	1	Full guide →
Private consultant appointment Specialists	£150–£300	1–3 months	1	Full guide →

Download the data (CSV)

How we compiled it

Prices are self-pay package prices published by UK private hospital groups, plus PHIN's published average package prices, checked in September 2026. Each treatment's guide lists the individual prices and links to where they're published.
Ranges are typical prices outside central London. London hospitals and some techniques, such as robotic surgery, can cost more.
The months-of-premiums column divides each price by Bupa's published average monthly premium for over-60s in May 2026: comprehensive cover, £500 excess, £500 outpatient limit, non-smoker. Your own premium will differ, and insurance only covers conditions that start after you take out a policy.
Prices change, and what's included varies between hospitals. This is a guide, not a quote. Always get a written price.

Use this data

You're free to use, quote or chart this index under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence, as long as you credit Dr Compare and link to this page. You can copy this credit:

Source: <a href="https://drcompare.co.uk/private-treatment-costs/price-index/">Dr Compare UK Private Treatment Price Index 2026</a>

For press enquiries or more detail, email hello@drcompare.co.uk.

Sources

Dr Compare provides general information about private health insurance and introduces enquirers to authorised insurance intermediaries. We do not give financial advice or personal recommendations. Product details, prices and waiting time figures are indicative, based on publicly available information, and may change — always check policy documents before buying. Guide prices for private treatment are illustrative and vary by provider, location and individual circumstances.