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, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare publish, plus the NHS-funded independent-sector route and what to ask before paying.
10-second answer
- The table below sets the NHS general surgery wait against each private operator's published hernia repair price.
- NHS patients can usually choose an independent-sector provider with an NHS contract, at no charge.
- NHS repair may be available if symptoms and clinical criteria justify surgery.
- Check whether the quote is for open or laparoscopic repair and what aftercare is included.
Hernia repair: NHS wait and private cost
Hernia repair: 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: Ramsay Health Care UKOpen inguinal (groin) hernia repair — excludes laparoscopic. Guide "from" price, inclusions not stated by Ramsay. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £3,818median of 26 hospitals, £3,170–£4,679 |
| Self-pay: Spire HealthcareOpen inguinal (groin) hernia repair. Guide price, includes consultant fee and initial consultation. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £3,884median of 36 hospitals, £3,678–£4,340 |
| Self-pay: Nuffield HealthOpen inguinal (groin) hernia repair — excludes laparoscopic and umbilical. Guide price, excludes consultant fees, prosthesis and drugs. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £4,200median of 29 hospitals, £3,690–£5,160 |
- 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 hernia repair 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.
Hernia repair waiting times at every NHS trust and independent-sector provider →
Healthcare data note
Sources, review and limits
Main sources
- NHS hernia repair information
- NHS England referral-to-treatment waiting times
- Nuffield Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare published hospital price lists
Methodology: Waits are NHS England's figures for the general surgery list, which includes hernia repair. Prices are read from each operator's own per-hospital price list and reported per operator. Prices may exclude diagnostics, complex repair, inpatient stay, complications or follow-up beyond the package.
What to ask before paying privately
Ask which hernia type is being priced, whether repair is open or laparoscopic, whether mesh is included, whether the surgeon and anaesthetist are included, and what happens if the procedure becomes more complex than expected.
Compare NHS wait context with private hernia repair starting prices by location.
Compare hernia repair pricesRelated 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 hernia repair
- Reporting period
- 2026-11-06
- Last updated
- 2026-11-06
- 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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does private hernia repair cost in the UK?
Nuffield Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare publish a hernia repair price for each of their hospitals. The table on this page gives each operator's current median and range, and names exactly which repair is priced. The two operators define their headline figure differently, so they are shown side by side and not averaged.
How long is the NHS waiting list for hernia repair?
NHS England does not publish a wait for hernia repair on its own. Hernia repair 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.
Can I get hernia repair on the NHS?
Yes, but local thresholds and urgency vary. Pain, size, symptoms and risk of complications can affect referral and timing.
What affects hernia surgery price?
Price depends on hernia type, open vs laparoscopic repair, mesh, anaesthetic, day-case vs inpatient care, surgeon and hospital package.
Sources & further reading
- NHS hernia repair — NHS information on inguinal hernia repair.
- NHS referral-to-treatment waiting times — NHS waiting-time context.
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