How long is the NHS wait for knee replacement surgery in Exeter?

The current median NHS wait for knee replacement surgery in Exeter (across 1 NHS trust) is approximately 18 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 49 weeks. There are 10,217 patients currently waiting on the Trauma & Orthopaedics pathway across these trusts.

Where can I get knee replacement surgery privately in Exeter?

Exeter has private hospitals operated by Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Health, Circle Health and HCA Healthcare among others. Nuffield and Spire publish per-hospital prices for knee replacement surgery ranging £13,120–£20,120 nationally — Spire Healthcare median £16,751, Nuffield Health median £17,445 — though those are national lists rather than Exeter 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 knee replacement surgery?

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 Exeter NHS trust has the shortest wait?

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is the main NHS trust serving Exeter for this procedure, with a current median wait of 18 weeks.

Can I be referred to an NHS trust outside Exeter 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.

Knee replacement surgery in Exeter: NHS wait vs private cost

The NHS waiting list for knee replacement surgery in Exeter has a median wait of 18 weeks across 1 NHS trust serving the area. Published private hospital prices run £13,120–£20,120 nationally across 67 hospitals.

NHS

Around the national average

18 weeks

Median wait in Exeter

92nd percentile wait:: 49 weeks
Patients waiting:: 10,217
Seen within 18 weeks:: 49%

Free at the point of use. Specialty-level data covering Trauma & Orthopaedics.

Private

Days, not weeks

£13,120–£20,120

Published UK prices, 67 hospitals

Spire Healthcare median:: £16,751
Nuffield Health median:: £17,445
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 Exeter

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

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

Compare your route

Keep comparing knee replacement surgery around Exeter

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

Exeter city pageCurrent18 week NHS median wait with private cost range.National overviewCompare this city against other English cities.Exeter private GPFind GP consultations and referral options in the same city.

Quick answer

Updated May 2026

NHS vs private comparisons are most useful when you compare the local NHS wait for the procedure against the likely private self-pay cost and referral route.

Use postcode or city pages for the most relevant NHS wait estimate.
Compare the full private package cost, including consultation and follow-up.
Check whether a private GP referral or direct self-referral is accepted.

Compare NHS waits and private costs Check by postcode

UK comparison next step

Compare local NHS waits with private starting prices

NHS eligibility varies by treatment and location.
Private prices usually depend on provider, anaesthetic, hospital and aftercare.
Finance may be available, but total cost still matters.

Compare NHS vs private options

Sources and updates

How this page is sourced

Updated May 2026

Sources

NHS England referral-to-treatment waiting time data
Published private hospital and provider price information
TreatCompare compiled NHS vs private pricing dataset

Methodology: We compare local NHS wait estimates with published private starting prices and common cost ranges. Waits and private quotes can change by provider, hospital, anaesthetic and aftercare needs.

Caveat: This page is for cost comparison and planning. It is not medical advice and does not assess NHS eligibility.

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

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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Cost FAQs

How do I compare NHS wait time with private cost?

Compare the local NHS wait estimate with the likely private package price. The decision is usually about time saved, total cost and whether private treatment is clinically suitable.

What does a private procedure price usually include?

It varies by provider. Consultation, diagnostics, anaesthetic, hospital fees and follow-up may be included or charged separately.

Will going private remove me from the NHS waiting list?

Self-funding private care does not automatically remove you from NHS care. Ask your NHS team or GP how your local pathway handles private treatment.

Are private treatment prices fixed?

Not always. Published prices are often starting prices or typical package prices, and the final quote can change after assessment.

Compare next

Compare NHS waits, private treatment costs and local referral options.

Compare NHS vs privateWait times and private costs by procedure Postcode lookupFind local NHS wait data Private GP referralSame-day referral and consultation routes Cost calculatorsEstimate private cost and monthly affordability

What private hospitals publish for knee replacement surgery

67 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	£16,751	£14,919–£19,877	36	Guide price, includes consultant fee and initial consultation.Total knee replacement — excludes robotic-assisted.
Nuffield Health	£17,445	£13,120–£20,120	31	Guide price, excludes consultant fees, prosthesis and drugs.Total knee replacement — excludes robotic-assisted and partial (unicompartmental).

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, 2026-10-07. 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 knee replacement surgery?

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

15 weeks saved

NHS wait

18 wk

Private quote

Private wait

3 wk

Time saved

15 weeks

Cost per week saved

£1,117

Monthly equivalent

£1,396/mo

or £698/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 £16,751. Change it to a quote you have been given.

NHS trusts serving Exeter

NHS Trust	Median wait	92nd %ile	Patients waiting	< 18 wks
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust RH8	18 wk	49 wk	10,217	49%

Knee replacement surgery in Exeter: FAQs

How much does private knee replacement surgery cost in Exeter?

Nuffield Health and Spire Healthcare publish prices of £13,120–£20,120 for knee replacement surgery across 67 hospitals — Spire Healthcare median £16,751, Nuffield Health median £17,445. Those are national price lists, not Exeter quotes, and each operator counts different things inside its figure. Local quotes in Exeter can vary depending on consultant fee, hospital fee, anaesthetic, follow-up and any implants or lens options.

How long is the NHS wait in Exeter?

The current median NHS wait for knee replacement surgery in Exeter is approximately 18 weeks, with a 92nd percentile wait of 49 weeks across the local Trauma & Orthopaedics 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.