How long is the NHS wait for gallbladder removal in London?

The current median NHS wait for gallbladder removal in London (across 9 NHS trusts) is approximately 15 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 50 weeks. There are 27,437 patients currently waiting on the General Surgery pathway across these trusts.

Where can I get gallbladder removal privately in London?

London has private hospitals operated by Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Health, Circle Health, and HCA Healthcare among others. Private gallbladder removal typically costs £5,500–£9,500 in the UK. Most private hospitals offer consultation packages where you can be assessed within days. Ask your GP for a referral letter or self-refer directly.

Will going private affect my NHS care for gallbladder removal?

No. You can self-fund private treatment without affecting your NHS care or losing your place on the NHS waiting list. Many patients use private providers to access faster surgery while keeping the NHS option as a backup.

Which London NHS trust has the shortest wait?

Across the 9 London NHS trusts in our dataset, the shortest median general surgery wait is at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (0 weeks). The full breakdown is shown in the table below.

Can I be referred to an NHS trust outside London for a faster wait?

Yes. Under the NHS Patient Choice rules, you have the right to ask your GP to refer you to any NHS trust in England — not just the one closest to your home. If a trust elsewhere has a shorter waiting list, you can request a referral there. Travel costs are your own responsibility.

Gallbladder removal in London: NHS wait vs private cost

The NHS waiting list for gallbladder removal in London has a median wait of 15 weeks across 9 NHS trusts serving the area. Private treatment typically costs £7,250, ranging from £5,500 to £9,500.

NHS

Around the national average

15 weeks

Median wait in London

92nd percentile wait:: 50 weeks
Patients waiting:: 27,437
Seen within 18 weeks:: 1672%

Free at the point of use. Specialty-level data covering General Surgery.

Private

Days, not weeks

£7,250

Typical UK private price

Lowest published:: £5,500
Highest published:: £9,500
Typical wait:: 2–4 weeks

Self-fund or use health insurance. Major UK groups: Spire, Nuffield, Circle, HCA.

NHS trusts serving London

NHS Trust	Median wait	92nd %ile	Patients waiting	< 18 wks
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust RJ1	16 wk	38 wk	1,557	859%
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust RJ2	12 wk	40 wk	6,894	4639%
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RJ7	20 wk	50 wk	1,251	592%
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RAS	16 wk	40 wk	1,178	627%
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust RYJ	17 wk	40 wk	2,219	1148%
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust RP4	0 wk	0 wk	0	0%
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust RAL	20 wk	49 wk	4,214	1885%
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust RQM	16 wk	45 wk	4,668	2484%
Barts Health NHS Trust R1H	17 wk	46 wk	5,456	2813%

Other procedures in London

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See Gallbladder removal waits across all UK cities →