Private Hip Replacement Cost UK 2026: NHS Wait vs Private Prices
Compare private hip replacement costs in the UK, including NHS waiting-time context, package inclusions, exclusions, finance and questions to ask before paying.
10-second answer
- The table below sets the NHS trauma and orthopaedics wait against each private operator's published hip replacement price.
- NHS patients can usually choose an independent-sector provider with an NHS contract, at no charge.
- NHS treatment is free if eligible, but waiting time and provider choice vary by area.
- Ask whether diagnostics, implant, inpatient stay, physiotherapy and follow-up are included before comparing prices.
Hip replacement: NHS wait and private cost
Hip replacement surgery: 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 trauma & orthopaedics list in England, August 2026.
| Route | Median wait | 92nd percentile | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS trust125 trusts, 692,198 people waiting | 14.5 weeks | 42.8 weeks | No charge |
| NHS-funded at an independent-sector provider181 providers, 151,221 people waiting | 11.4 weeks | 34.0 weeks | No charge |
| Self-pay: Ramsay Health Care UKCemented hip replacement — Ramsay prices uncemented and ceramic hips separately. Guide "from" price, inclusions not stated by Ramsay. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £16,202median of 16 hospitals, £14,884–£18,506 |
| Self-pay: Spire HealthcareTotal hip replacement — excludes robotic-assisted and minimally invasive. Guide price, includes consultant fee and initial consultation. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £16,509median of 35 hospitals, £15,370–£19,603 |
| Self-pay: Nuffield HealthTotal hip replacement — excludes robotic-assisted (MAKO) and resurfacing. Guide price, excludes consultant fees, prosthesis and drugs. | Not tracked | Not tracked | £17,063median of 31 hospitals, £13,120–£18,955 |
- 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 trauma & orthopaedics list: NHS England publishes no wait for hip replacement surgery 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.
Hip replacement surgery waiting times at every NHS trust and independent-sector provider →
What a private hip replacement quote includes
| Route | Typical cost | Main trade-off | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS | Free if eligible | Waiting time and local pathway | Referral route, local wait, clinical priority |
| Self-pay private | See published prices above | Direct provider choice | Package inclusions and aftercare |
| Insurance | Policy dependent | Requires cover and authorisation | Excess, approved hospital, exclusions |
| Finance | Monthly repayment | Spreads cost but adds credit checks/interest | APR and total repayable |
Healthcare data note
Sources, review and limits
Main sources
- NHS treatment information
- NHS England referral-to-treatment waiting times
- Nuffield Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare published hospital price lists
Methodology: We compare published private package prices and NHS access information where available. Prices may exclude diagnostics, additional physiotherapy, complications, enhanced implants or extended stays.
NHS vs private route
The NHS route is usually the right starting point if cost is the priority and symptoms can be managed while waiting. Private treatment may be considered where pain, mobility, work or caring responsibilities make timing more urgent.
Clinical suitability, implant choice and surgical risks must be discussed with a qualified orthopaedic team.
Compare NHS waiting-time context with private hip replacement starting prices by location.
Compare hip replacement 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 hip replacement
- 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.
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 ->
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private hip replacement cost in the UK?
Nuffield Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare publish a hip replacement 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 a hip replacement?
NHS England does not publish a wait for hip replacement on its own. It sits on the trauma and orthopaedics 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 a hip replacement on the NHS?
Yes. NHS hip replacement is available where clinical criteria are met, usually after GP referral and orthopaedic assessment. Waiting time varies by local service and clinical urgency.
What is usually included in a private hip replacement package?
Packages often include hospital fees, surgeon, anaesthetist, implant, theatre time, inpatient stay and routine follow-up. Confirm scans, pre-op tests, physiotherapy and complication cover.
Is finance available for private hip replacement?
Some private hospitals or finance partners offer payment plans. Compare the total repayable amount, not only the monthly payment.
Sources & further reading
- NHS hip replacement — NHS treatment information and access route.
- NHS referral-to-treatment waiting times — NHS waiting-time context.
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
What private CT scan prices in the UK cover by body area, contrast and report, which operators publish them, and how long NHS patients in England wait for the test.
Private Endoscopy Cost UK 2026: Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy & NHS Waits
What Nuffield Health, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare publish for a diagnostic gastroscopy and colonoscopy, what is often charged on top, and how the NHS wait for these tests is measured in England.
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.