Knowledge Hub Β· NHS Finance
NHS vs Private Healthcare Costs in 2025/26
What treatments actually cost the NHS, what you would pay privately, and why it matters for every healthcare worker and patient in the UK.
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March 2026 βοΈ Skillfull Scrubs Team NHS Finance Patient Info
π In this article
- Why NHS treatment costs matter
- Use our interactive cost comparison tool
- Full catalogue of NHS vs private prices by category
- Key takeaways for patients and healthcare workers
01 Β Context
Why Do NHS Treatment Costs Matter?
The NHS is free at the point of use but it is far from free to run. Every appointment, scan, operation and prescription has a real cost that is funded through taxation. Understanding those costs helps patients appreciate the value of the service they receive and helps healthcare workers understand the resource they are managing every single day.
The figures below are drawn from the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme, published by NHS England in April 2025, and from verified private provider pricing published in 2025 and 2026. Private costs shown are self-pay prices without insurance.
Β£192bn
NHS England budget for 2025/26
7M+
People on NHS waiting lists in 2025
Β£9.90
Cost of an NHS prescription in England from April 2025
Free
Cost to the patient for most NHS hospital treatment
π‘
How NHS costs are set
NHS treatment costs are set through the NHS Payment Scheme using Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs). Each procedure is assigned a tariff price that reflects the average national cost of delivering that treatment. Prices are updated annually and were uplifted by 4.83% in April 2025 to reflect the 2025/26 pay award.
02 Β Cost Comparison Tool
NHS vs Private: Look Up Any Treatment
Select a category and a treatment below to see what it costs the NHS compared to what you would pay privately in 2025/26.
03 Β Full Price Catalogue
Complete NHS vs Private Price List 2025/26
Below is the full catalogue of treatment costs organised by category. All NHS figures are based on the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme and published reference costs. Private figures are self-pay market rates.
π©Ί Primary Care
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| GP appointment (face to face) |
Free to patient (approx Β£39 to NHS) |
Β£80 to Β£200 |
| GP telephone or video consultation |
Free to patient |
Β£50 to Β£120 |
| NHS prescription (per item, England) |
Β£9.90 to patient (actual cost approx Β£28) |
N/A (retail price varies) |
| Prescription prepayment certificate (3 months) |
Β£32.05 |
N/A |
| District nurse home visit |
Free |
Β£80 to Β£150 per visit |
| Phlebotomy (NHS blood test) |
Free |
Β£50 to Β£150 |
π¨ Emergency and Urgent Care
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| A&E attendance (minor, no admission) |
Free to patient (approx Β£86 to Β£180 to NHS) |
Β£200 to Β£400 |
| A&E attendance (major, no admission) |
Free to patient (approx Β£180 to Β£350 to NHS) |
Β£400 to Β£800 |
| Ambulance call-out |
Free to patient (approx Β£260 to NHS) |
Β£400 to Β£1,200 |
| Emergency appendix removal (adult, no complications) |
Free (approx Β£3,800 to NHS) |
Β£6,000 to Β£9,000 |
| Emergency coronary bypass (no complications) |
Free (approx Β£11,400 to NHS) |
Β£22,000 to Β£40,000 |
| Urgent care centre attendance |
Free to patient (approx Β£86 to NHS) |
Β£150 to Β£300 |
π¬ Diagnostics and Imaging
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| MRI scan (single body area) |
Free (approx Β£280 to Β£400 to NHS) |
Β£400 to Β£900 |
| CT scan (single body area) |
Free (approx Β£180 to Β£300 to NHS) |
Β£500 to Β£1,000 |
| X-ray |
Free (approx Β£50 to Β£100 to NHS) |
Β£100 to Β£250 |
| Ultrasound scan |
Free (approx Β£60 to Β£120 to NHS) |
Β£150 to Β£400 |
| Echocardiogram |
Free (approx Β£200 to Β£350 to NHS) |
Β£400 to Β£800 |
| Endoscopy or gastroscopy |
Free (approx Β£600 to Β£900 to NHS) |
Β£1,500 to Β£2,500 |
| Colonoscopy |
Free (approx Β£700 to Β£1,000 to NHS) |
Β£1,800 to Β£3,000 |
| Outpatient specialist consultation (first) |
Free (approx Β£150 to Β£220 to NHS) |
Β£150 to Β£350 |
| Outpatient follow-up appointment |
Free (approx Β£80 to Β£130 to NHS) |
Β£100 to Β£250 |
𦴠Orthopaedics
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Total hip replacement |
Free (approx Β£7,500 to Β£9,000 to NHS) |
Β£12,500 to Β£19,000 |
| Total knee replacement |
Free (approx Β£7,200 to Β£8,800 to NHS) |
Β£13,000 to Β£19,500 |
| ACL reconstruction |
Free (approx Β£4,000 to Β£5,500 to NHS) |
Β£6,500 to Β£10,000 |
| Shoulder arthroscopy |
Free (approx Β£3,000 to Β£4,500 to NHS) |
Β£5,000 to Β£9,000 |
| Carpal tunnel release |
Free (approx Β£1,200 to Β£1,800 to NHS) |
Β£1,800 to Β£3,000 |
| Fractured wrist (manipulation and cast) |
Free (approx Β£700 to Β£1,200 to NHS) |
Β£1,500 to Β£3,000 |
| Physiotherapy session (NHS) |
Free (approx Β£100 to Β£150 to NHS) |
Β£50 to Β£120 per session |
ποΈ Ophthalmology
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) |
Free (approx Β£1,100 to Β£1,600 to NHS) |
Β£2,500 to Β£4,500 |
| NHS eye test (eligible patients) |
Free (approx Β£21 to NHS) |
Β£25 to Β£50 |
| Glaucoma monitoring appointment |
Free |
Β£150 to Β£300 |
| Laser eye surgery (LASIK, per eye) |
Not routinely funded |
Β£1,500 to Β£3,000 |
πͺ General Surgery
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Inguinal hernia repair |
Free (approx Β£2,200 to Β£3,000 to NHS) |
Β£3,000 to Β£5,000 |
| Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic) |
Free (approx Β£3,500 to Β£4,800 to NHS) |
Β£6,000 to Β£9,000 |
| Varicose vein treatment |
Free if clinically indicated (approx Β£1,800 to Β£2,500) |
Β£2,500 to Β£5,000 |
| Haemorrhoid banding |
Free (approx Β£700 to Β£1,200 to NHS) |
Β£1,500 to Β£3,000 |
π©· Gynaecology
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Hysterectomy (laparoscopic) |
Free (approx Β£5,500 to Β£7,500 to NHS) |
Β£7,500 to Β£12,000 |
| Hysteroscopy (diagnostic) |
Free (approx Β£600 to Β£900 to NHS) |
Β£1,500 to Β£2,500 |
| Cervical smear test |
Free |
Β£95 to Β£200 |
| IVF cycle (NHS funded, where eligible) |
Free if eligible (approx Β£4,500 to Β£6,000 to NHS) |
Β£5,000 to Β£8,000 |
| Colposcopy |
Free (approx Β£350 to Β£550 to NHS) |
Β£600 to Β£1,200 |
π Ear, Nose and Throat
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Tonsillectomy (adult) |
Free (approx Β£2,200 to Β£3,000 to NHS) |
Β£3,500 to Β£5,500 |
| Grommets (children, per ear) |
Free (approx Β£1,100 to Β£1,600 to NHS) |
Β£2,000 to Β£3,500 |
| Septoplasty (deviated septum) |
Free if clinically indicated (approx Β£2,500 to Β£3,500) |
Β£4,000 to Β£7,000 |
| Hearing aid (NHS) |
Free (digital aids provided) |
Β£1,000 to Β£3,500 per aid |
β€οΈ Cardiac
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) |
Free (approx Β£11,400 to Β£14,000 to NHS) |
Β£22,000 to Β£40,000 |
| Percutaneous coronary intervention (stent) |
Free (approx Β£6,000 to Β£9,000 to NHS) |
Β£12,000 to Β£20,000 |
| Pacemaker insertion |
Free (approx Β£5,000 to Β£8,000 to NHS) |
Β£10,000 to Β£20,000 |
| Cardiac catheterisation (diagnostic) |
Free (approx Β£2,500 to Β£4,000 to NHS) |
Β£4,000 to Β£8,000 |
π§ Mental Health
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy, per session) |
Free via IAPT (approx Β£90 to Β£130 per session to NHS) |
Β£60 to Β£150 per session |
| Psychiatrist outpatient consultation |
Free (approx Β£250 to Β£400 to NHS) |
Β£300 to Β£600 |
| Inpatient mental health bed (per day) |
Free (approx Β£350 to Β£500 per day to NHS) |
Β£500 to Β£1,500 per day |
| Community mental health team contact |
Free |
Β£80 to Β£200 |
π¦· Dental (England)
| Treatment |
NHS Patient Charge |
Private Self-Pay |
| Check-up and simple cleaning (Band 1) |
Β£26.80 |
Β£50 to Β£120 |
| Fillings, root canal, extractions (Band 2) |
Β£73.50 |
Β£100 to Β£500+ |
| Crowns, dentures, bridges (Band 3) |
Β£319.10 |
Β£600 to Β£2,500+ |
| Orthodontic treatment (NHS) |
Β£319.10 |
Β£2,000 to Β£7,000 |
| Teeth whitening |
Not available on NHS |
Β£300 to Β£1,000 |
πΆ Maternity
| Treatment |
NHS Cost to Service |
Private Self-Pay |
| Normal vaginal birth (full maternity package) |
Free (approx Β£2,500 to Β£3,500 to NHS) |
Β£5,000 to Β£10,000 |
| Elective caesarean section |
Free (approx Β£4,500 to Β£6,000 to NHS) |
Β£8,000 to Β£15,000 |
| Antenatal appointment (per visit) |
Free (approx Β£90 to Β£130 to NHS) |
Β£100 to Β£250 |
| 20-week anomaly scan |
Free (approx Β£80 to Β£120 to NHS) |
Β£150 to Β£350 |
β οΈ
Important Disclaimer
All NHS costs shown are approximate costs to the NHS service, not charges to patients. NHS treatment remains free at the point of use for eligible UK residents. Private costs are estimated self-pay market rates for 2025/26 and vary significantly by provider, location and patient complexity. These figures should not be used for billing or financial planning purposes.
NHS Costs Private Healthcare NHS Finance Treatment Prices NHS 2025 Healthcare UK Patient Info
