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

The current median NHS wait for gallbladder removal in Sunderland (across 1 NHS trust) is approximately 7 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 24 weeks. There are 4,679 patients currently waiting on the General Surgery pathway across these trusts.

Where can I get gallbladder removal privately in Sunderland?

Sunderland has private hospitals operated by Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Health, Circle Health and HCA Healthcare among others. Nuffield and Spire publish per-hospital prices for gallbladder removal ranging £7,390–£10,530 nationally — Spire Healthcare median £8,176, Nuffield Health median £8,954 — though those are national lists rather than Sunderland quotes. 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 Sunderland NHS trust has the shortest wait?

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is the main NHS trust serving Sunderland for this procedure, with a current median wait of 6 weeks.

Can I be referred to an NHS trust outside Sunderland 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 Sunderland: NHS wait vs private cost

The NHS waiting list for gallbladder removal in Sunderland has a median wait of 7 weeks across 1 NHS trust serving the area. Published private hospital prices run £7,390–£10,530 nationally across 66 hospitals.

NHS

Faster than the national average

7 weeks

Median wait in Sunderland

92nd percentile wait:: 24 weeks
Patients waiting:: 4,679
Seen within 18 weeks:: 84%

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

Private

Days, not weeks

£7,390–£10,530

Published UK prices, 66 hospitals

Spire Healthcare median:: £8,176
Nuffield Health median:: £8,954
Typical wait:: 2–4 weeks

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

Next step

Decide whether to wait or go private in Sunderland

Use the local NHS wait, the private price range and related treatment pages to move from answer to action.

Compare all citiesGallbladder removal waits nationwide Calculate wait vs costWeeks saved and monthly cost Get a private GP referralSame-day referral options

Compare your route

Keep comparing gallbladder removal around Sunderland

City pages are useful for the headline wait. The next useful step is usually the national context, a specific postcode/outcode, a private referral route or finance.

Finance options

Sunderland city pageCurrent7 week NHS median wait with private cost range.National overviewCompare this city against other English cities.Private GP referral optionsFind online and in-person GP consultations for referral letters.

Important context

NHS waiting-time figures are published at trust or specialty level. Private prices are read from individual hospitals’ own published price lists and cover two hospital groups rather than the whole private market; each operator defines its own inclusions, so their figures are shown separately and not averaged. 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: Jul 2026
Last updated: 2026-10-06
Figure type: Mixed sources
Use: Research and comparison only

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What private hospitals publish for gallbladder removal

66 hospitals across 2 operators publish a price for this procedure. Each operator’s figures are shown separately, against that operator’s own definition of what the price covers.

Operator	Median	Across its hospitals	Hospitals	What the figure covers
Spire Healthcare	£8,176	£7,390–£8,873	36	Guide price, includes consultant fee and initial consultation.Laparoscopic cholecystectomy — excludes the variant with X-ray imaging.
Nuffield Health	£8,954	£8,565–£10,530	30	Guide price, excludes consultant fees, prosthesis and drugs.Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal).

Why there is no single figure. These two operators define their headline price differently — Nuffield Health says its guide price excludes consultant fees, while Spire Healthcare’s includes a consultant fee and an initial consultation. Their published figures track each other closely across every procedure both price, but that is a pattern in the numbers, not a statement either company makes. Averaging them would imply a like-for-like comparison neither operator has confirmed.

Read from each operator’s own published price pages, 2026-10-05. Prices change and exclusions differ — confirm the total in writing with the hospital before booking. This covers two of the UK’s private hospital groups, not the whole private market.

Calculator

Is going private worth it for gallbladder removal?

Adjust the wait and quote to estimate weeks saved, cost per week saved and simple monthly equivalents.

4 weeks saved

NHS wait

7 wk

Private quote

Private wait

3 wk

Time saved

4 weeks

Cost per week saved

£2,044

Monthly equivalent

£681/mo

or £341/mo over 24 months

This is a planning aid only. Actual quotes, insurance coverage and finance terms vary by provider.

Starts from Spire Healthcare’s median of £8,176. Change it to a quote you have been given.

NHS trusts serving Sunderland

NHS Trust	Median wait	92nd %ile	Patients waiting	< 18 wks
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust R0B	6 wk	24 wk	4,679	84%

Gallbladder removal in Sunderland: FAQs

How much does private gallbladder removal cost in Sunderland?

Nuffield Health and Spire Healthcare publish prices of £7,390–£10,530 for gallbladder removal across 66 hospitals — Spire Healthcare median £8,176, Nuffield Health median £8,954. Those are national price lists, not Sunderland quotes, and each operator counts different things inside its figure. Local quotes in Sunderland can vary depending on consultant fee, hospital fee, anaesthetic, follow-up and any implants or lens options.

How long is the NHS wait in Sunderland?

The current median NHS wait for gallbladder removal in Sunderland is approximately 7 weeks, with a 92nd percentile wait of 24 weeks across the local General Surgery pathway.

What should I ask a private provider before paying?

Ask for an itemised quote showing consultant assessment, hospital fee, anaesthetic or sedation, treatment materials, follow-up appointments, cancellation terms and whether complications or revisions are covered.