How much is self-pay colonoscopy in the UK?

Self-pay (private) colonoscopy in the UK typically costs £1,300–£2,800, with a typical self-pay price around £1,850. No GP referral or private health insurance is required to pay for treatment yourself, and you can self-fund while remaining on the NHS waiting list.

How much does private colonoscopy cost in the UK?

Private colonoscopy in the UK typically costs £1,300–£2,800, with a typical price around £1,850. Prices vary by hospital group, surgeon experience, and what's included (anaesthesia, follow-ups, physiotherapy). Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Health, Circle Health Group, Ramsay Health Care UK, and HCA Healthcare are the main private hospital groups offering this procedure.

How long is the NHS wait for colonoscopy in the UK?

The current median NHS wait for colonoscopy (within the Gastroenterology specialty) in England is approximately 11 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 31 weeks. Waits vary significantly by NHS trust — see the city breakdowns below for local figures.

Can I switch from NHS to private for colonoscopy?

Yes. You can self-fund or use private health insurance to access colonoscopy privately while remaining on the NHS waiting list. Many patients do this to avoid the long wait. Some private hospitals offer consultation packages where you can be assessed within days. You will not lose your NHS place by getting a private opinion or treatment.

Which cities have the shortest NHS waits for colonoscopy?

Based on the latest NHS England RTT data, the UK cities with the shortest median waits for gastroenterology (the specialty covering colonoscopy) include Sunderland (4 weeks), Middlesbrough (6 weeks), Cambridge (6 weeks), Newcastle upon Tyne (7 weeks), Liverpool (8 weeks). See the full city table below.

Is colonoscopy covered by private health insurance?

Most major UK health insurers (Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA) cover colonoscopy on standard policies, subject to underwriting and policy terms. Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded. Always confirm coverage with your insurer before scheduling.

Colonoscopy cost UK: private from £1,300

Endoscopic examination of the large bowel, often with biopsy or polyp removal. Private treatment typically costs £1,300–£2,800. The current NHS median wait is around 11 weeks.

Private cost (typical)

£1,850

Range £1,300–£2,800

NHS median wait (England)

11 weeks

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Long-tail wait (92nd percentile)

31 weeks

138,685 patients waiting

According to TreatCompare analysis of NHS England RTT data, the current national median NHS wait for colonoscopy is approximately 11 weeks, while the 92nd percentile wait is approximately 31 weeks.

According to TreatCompare analysis of published UK private hospital prices, private colonoscopy typically costs £1,300-£2,800, with a typical price around £1,850.

According to TreatCompare analysis, users comparing colonoscopy should check local NHS wait by city or postcode before deciding whether private self-pay, insurance or staying on the NHS list is the better route.

TreatCompare NHS wait and private price model. NHS data month: May 2026.

Important context

NHS waiting-time figures are published at trust or specialty level and private prices are indicative ranges. Local eligibility, referral route, clinical urgency, provider package and insurance status can change the real-world choice. TreatCompare is for comparison only and is not medical, legal or financial advice.

Source type: Official NHS waiting-time data and private price model
Primary source: NHS England Referral to Treatment waiting-time data
Reporting period: May 2026
Last updated: 2026-07-17
Figure type: Mixed sources
Use: Research and comparison only

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UK private hospital scrape signals

Checked 19 private provider sources on 21 May 2026; 7 returned crawlable signals. 8 crawlable GBP price signals captured.

Provider	Signal	Captured value	Source
Ramsay Health Care UK - Ashtead Hospital	Price Bowel Examination (Colonoscopy) with removal of Tissue from £	£2,241	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - Duchy Hospital	Price Bowel Examination (Colonoscopy) as Ambulatory from £	£2,600	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - Fulwood Hall Hospital	Price Bowel Examination (Colonoscopy) with removal of Tissue from £	£2,306	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - New Hall Hospital	Price Colonoscopy with Gastroscopy from £	£3,356	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - North Downs Hospital	Price Bowel Examination (Colonoscopy) with removal of Tissue from £	£3,307	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - Oaklands Hospital	Price Bowel Examination (Colonoscopy) as Ambulatory from £	£4,000	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - Oaklands Hospital	Price Bowel Examination (Colonoscopy) with removal of Tissue from £	£2,943	Provider page
Ramsay Health Care UK - Park Hill Hospital	Price Diagnostic oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) and immediate colonoscopy from £	£3,508	Provider page

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Compare your route

Choose the right colonoscopy comparison route

People often start with the national price, then drill into a city, postcode area or referral route. These links keep that path visible from the top of the page.

Finance options

National overviewCurrentPrivate from £1,300 with NHS waits across England.Sunderland city pageA local NHS wait page with trust context and private price range.Postcode area pagesStart with a postcode area and move into outcode-level pages.Private GP referralCheck same-day GP and referral options before contacting hospitals.All NHS vs privateCompare other procedures if the patient is still researching options.

Decision paths

Compare colonoscopy waits, prices and next actions

These pages are most useful when visitors move from the national benchmark into a local wait, private price range, referral route or price-update action.

Check NHS wait in your areaStart with Sunderland, then compare other cities.See private price rangePrivate from £1,300 to £2,800.Use postcode pagesMove from postcode area to outcode-level NHS wait context.Compare referral routesPrivate GP and referral-letter options before contacting hospitals.Submit a price updateSend a hospital quote or updated provider fee.Ask for verificationRequest editorial or reviewer checking for this page.

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NHS wait by city — fastest first

City	Median wait	Compare locally
Sunderland	4 weeks	See Sunderland →
Middlesbrough	6 weeks	See Middlesbrough →
Cambridge	6 weeks	See Cambridge →
Newcastle upon Tyne	7 weeks	See Newcastle upon Tyne →
Liverpool	8 weeks	See Liverpool →
Milton Keynes	8 weeks	See Milton Keynes →
Bristol	8 weeks	See Bristol →
Exeter	9 weeks	See Exeter →
Leeds	9 weeks	See Leeds →
Southampton	10 weeks	See Southampton →
Coventry	10 weeks	See Coventry →
London	10 weeks	See London →
Bradford	10 weeks	See Bradford →
Reading	11 weeks	See Reading →
Sheffield	11 weeks	See Sheffield →
Brighton	11 weeks	See Brighton →
Plymouth	11 weeks	See Plymouth →
Portsmouth	11 weeks	See Portsmouth →
Derby	12 weeks	See Derby →
Norwich	12 weeks	See Norwich →
Oxford	12 weeks	See Oxford →
York	12 weeks	See York →
Stoke-on-Trent	13 weeks	See Stoke-on-Trent →
Nottingham	13 weeks	See Nottingham →
Manchester	14 weeks	See Manchester →
Leicester	15 weeks	See Leicester →
Birmingham	15 weeks	See Birmingham →
Blackpool	16 weeks	See Blackpool →
Hull	17 weeks	See Hull →
Preston	20 weeks	See Preston →

Looking for colonoscopy waits by postcode?

We also publish wait times by postcode area, mapped to the NHS trust most likely to accept your GP referral.

See colonoscopy by postcode area →

All English cities

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