Private Gallbladder Removal Cost UK 2026: NHS Wait vs Private Prices
Compare private gallbladder removal costs in the UK, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy prices, consultant fees, hospital package inclusions and NHS waiting-time context.
10-second answer
Gallbladder removal: NHS wait and private cost
Gallbladder removal: the wait on each route, and what it costs
The NHS routes have a published wait and no charge. Paying yourself has a published price and no published wait. NHS figures are for the general surgery list in England, August 2026.
| Route | Median wait | 92nd percentile | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS trust115 trusts, 349,643 people waiting | 13.2 weeks | 41.8 weeks | No charge |
| NHS-funded at an independent-sector provider161 providers, 34,784 people waiting | 9.7 weeks | 31.1 weeks | No charge |
| Self-pay: Spire HealthcareLaparoscopic cholecystectomy — excludes the variant with X-ray imaging. Guide price, includes consultant fee and initial consultation. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £8,180median of 36 hospitals, £7,390–£8,873 |
| Self-pay: Nuffield HealthLaparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal). Guide price, excludes consultant fees, prosthesis and drugs. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £8,954median of 30 hospitals, £8,565–£10,530 |
- What the wait measures. How long people still on the list have waited so far, counted from referral. It is not the time from referral to operation, and it covers the whole general surgery list: NHS England publishes no wait for gallbladder removal alone.
- 92nd percentile. 92 in every 100 people on the list have waited less than this; 8 in 100 have waited longer.
- Independent-sector provider. A private hospital or other non-NHS provider treating NHS patients under contract. NHS patients in England can usually choose where they are referred, including these providers (NHS: your choices). These are waits for NHS-funded patients, not for people paying themselves.
- Self-pay wait. We hold no published self-pay waiting time for any hospital, so none is shown. Ask for a date in writing with the quote.
- Source: NHS England RTT waiting times, incomplete pathways, August 2026, published 8th October 2026. Sector medians are calculated from the weekly counts in that release, using the method NHS England applies to each provider.
Gallbladder removal waiting times at every NHS trust and independent-sector provider →
What a private gallbladder removal quote includes
| Cost item | Usually included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Sometimes no | Initial and follow-up may be charged separately |
| Ultrasound/MRCP/blood tests | Often no | Diagnostics can add cost |
| Surgeon fee | Yes in package | Confirm if named consultant included |
| Anaesthetist fee | Usually | Check package wording |
| Hospital/theatre fee | Usually | Day-case vs overnight affects price |
| Follow-up | Usually limited | Confirm readmission policy |
Compare NHS vs private gallbladder removal
NHS vs private
The NHS route is usually appropriate where symptoms can be managed safely while waiting. Private surgery may be considered when symptoms are recurrent, affecting work or quality of life, or when local waiting times are long.
Ask the private hospital what happens if the procedure is more complex than expected, converts from day-case to overnight stay, or needs additional imaging before surgery.
Compare NHS waiting times with private gallbladder removal starting prices by location.
Compare gallbladder removal pricesRelated NHS vs private guides
Important context
TreatCompare uses public data, provider-published information, official datasets, structured research and analysis. Figures can change and may not be complete in real time. Use this page for research and comparison only, then verify directly with the relevant provider.
- Source type
- Named public and provider sources
- Primary source
- NHS gallbladder removal
- Reporting period
- 2026-10-13
- Last updated
- 2026-10-13
- Figure type
- Mixed sources
- Use
- Research and comparison only
Are you a clinic, provider or data owner?
If you believe information on this page is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete or presented without necessary context, contact us with the page URL and supporting evidence. We review correction requests promptly, but they are not automatically accepted.
Data funnel
Help improve UK healthcare price data
TreatCompare gets more useful when readers send real quotes, providers verify listings, and outdated claims are corrected. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
I have a quote or bill
Send provider, price, date, what was included and what was excluded.
Submit price data ->
I represent a provider
Update a listing, package fee, source URL, registration detail or location.
Update provider data ->
Something looks wrong
Flag an incorrect price, outdated source, missing inclusion or disputed claim.
Report a data issue ->
Surgery and imaging depth
Procedure searches where price depth should compound
Private surgery and diagnostic scan searches need provider price examples, body-area variants, NHS wait context and quote-inclusion checks.
| Search target | Price signal | Depth angle | Next data point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private MRI scan cost UK | Body-area MRI rows and provider-published scan prices | With contrast, multiple regions and reporting fee differences | Provider examples for Vista, Nuffield, Spire, Circle and local imaging centres |
| Private X-ray cost UK | Plain-film imaging from lower-cost outpatient routes | Body part, report fee and referral requirement | Walk-in X-ray routes and hospital-group add-ons |
| Gallbladder surgery cost UK | Package-price private hospital rows | Consultation, anaesthetic, hospital stay and aftercare inclusions | Provider-by-provider package examples and excess policy notes |
| Colonoscopy cost UK | Diagnostic endoscopy rows | Sedation, biopsy, polyp removal and histology extras | Hospital and endoscopy-centre add-on fee capture |
Frequently asked questions
How much does private gallbladder removal cost in the UK?
Nuffield Health and Spire Healthcare publish a gallbladder removal price for each of their hospitals. The table on this page gives each operator's current median and range, and names exactly which procedure is priced. The two operators define their headline figure differently, so they are shown side by side and not averaged. Ask for the total in writing, including consultant, anaesthetist, diagnostics and follow-up.
How long is the NHS waiting list for gallbladder removal?
NHS England does not publish a wait for gallbladder removal on its own. It sits on the general surgery list, and the table on this page shows the current median wait for that list at NHS trusts and at independent-sector providers treating NHS patients, from NHS England's monthly referral-to-treatment release.
Is gallbladder removal available on the NHS?
Yes, gallbladder removal is available on the NHS where clinically indicated. Waiting time varies by trust and urgency.
What is included in a private gallbladder package?
Packages may include surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital theatre, standard overnight or day-case care and follow-up, but diagnostics and complications may be separate.
What should I ask before paying privately?
Ask whether scans, pre-assessment, anaesthetic, hospital fees, overnight stay, follow-up and readmission policy are included.
Sources & further reading
- NHS gallbladder removal — Public information on gallbladder removal surgery.
- NHS waiting times — NHS referral-to-treatment waiting time data.
Get an email when prices change
Free alerts when a new provider lists, or the lower-cost published price falls. Confirm by email; unsubscribe in one click.
We'll send a confirmation link first. No marketing — alerts only. Unsubscribe with one click in any email.
Compare prices from verified providers
NHS vs Private Treatment Prices
Compare local NHS waits with private starting prices for common procedures.
Cataract Surgery
NHS wait vs private eye surgery cost
Gallbladder Removal
Cholecystectomy waits and private prices
Colonoscopy
Endoscopy waits and private procedure costs
MRI Scan
Private imaging prices with provider evidence
CT Scan
Diagnostic imaging price evidence
X-ray
Low-cost private X-ray price rows
Ultrasound
Private ultrasound provider rows
Related articles
Why Premium Cataract Lenses Cost More: A Surgeon on Pricing and Moral Hazard
A consultant ophthalmologist on why premium cataract lenses carry a ~£2,000 private margin when the lens itself costs about £500, and what happens when the choice is offered at cost. Guest opinion.
Private CT Scan Cost UK 2026: NHS vs Private Prices
Compare private CT scan costs in the UK, including contrast, reports, referral routes, NHS diagnostic access and common add-ons.
Private Endoscopy Cost UK 2026: Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy & NHS Waits
Compare private endoscopy costs in the UK, including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, sedation, biopsy, NHS access and package exclusions.
Private Hernia Surgery UK 2026: NHS Waiting Time vs Private Cost
NHS waiting time for hernia repair set against the hernia surgery prices Nuffield Health and Spire Healthcare publish, plus the NHS-funded independent-sector route and what to ask before paying.