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Private Orthopaedic Surgery Costs in the UK (2026): Hip, Knee, Shoulder and ACL
In 2026 the large UK private hospital groups publish self-pay prices of £13,020 to £16,914 for a knee replacement and £12,750 to £16,579 for a hip replacement, with the first consultation charged on top. This page brings together the published prices for the main orthopaedic operations and links to the detailed guide for each.
Key facts
- Published UK self-pay prices for a total knee replacement run from £13,020 (Circle Health Group) to £16,914 (Nuffield Health), checked 22 September 2026.
- Published UK self-pay prices for a total hip replacement run from £12,750 (Circle Health Group) to £16,579 (Nuffield Health), checked 22 September 2026.
- A private shoulder replacement in the UK costs about £12,700 to £14,600; ACL reconstruction about £7,000 to £7,400.
- The first consultation is charged separately almost everywhere: £95 at Practice Plus Group, from £200 at Circle and Nuffield, £204 at Spire Washington.
- At OrthoVoyage's partner hospital in Poland the list prices are €6,940 (about £5,970) for a hip replacement and €8,620 (about £7,420) for a knee replacement.
Checked 8 October 2026
UK private prices at a glance
| Operation | UK published self-pay price | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | £13,020 – £16,914 | Knee replacement cost · by hospital group |
| Total hip replacement | £12,750 – £16,579 | Hip replacement cost · by hospital group |
| Shoulder replacement | about £12,700 – £14,600 | Shoulder replacement cost |
| ACL reconstruction | about £7,000 – £7,400 | ACL reconstruction cost |
| Knee arthroscopy | £5,899 (Practice Plus Group); from about £4,276 (Circle Health Group) | Knee arthroscopy in Poland |
| Rotator cuff repair | £5,749 (Practice Plus Group) | Rotator cuff repair in Poland |
Knee and hip figures are the national published prices of the large hospital groups, checked 22 September 2026. Arthroscopy and rotator cuff figures were checked 7 October 2026. Prices differ between hospitals in the same group, so always get a written quote.
What is usually extra
- The first consultation: £95 to about £200 or more.
- Diagnostic scans ordered at that consultation — X-ray, MRI or CT.
- Implant upgrades: uncemented, ceramic or anti-allergic implants can add £1,500 or more.
- Extra nights in hospital if your recovery is slower than planned.
- Physiotherapy beyond what the package includes.
Ask every hospital the same question: what is the total I will pay from first appointment to final follow-up, in writing?
Ways to pay
- Self-pay in one payment, from savings.
- Hospital finance: interest-free for 10 to 24 months at the large groups, then 9.9% to 14.9% APR on longer plans. See how to pay for private surgery.
- Private health insurance, only if the joint problem began after your policy did. See does insurance cover a joint replacement?
- The NHS, free but with a wait. See NHS waiting times for hip and knee replacement.
The same operations abroad
| Operation | UK published price | Partner hospital in Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Total hip replacement | £12,750 – £16,579 | €6,940, about £5,970 |
| Total knee replacement | £13,020 – £16,914 | €8,620, about £7,420 |
| Shoulder replacement | about £12,700 – £14,600 | €10,190, about £8,770 |
| ACL reconstruction | about £7,000 – £7,400 | €4,630, about £3,990 |
Polish prices are the hospital's own list prices; flights and hotel are extra. See orthopaedic surgery in Poland for what each price includes, and surgery abroad for how other countries compare.
OrthoVoyage is a medical travel concierge, not a hospital, and does not give medical or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private knee replacement cost in the UK?
Published self-pay prices at the large hospital groups run from £13,020 (Circle Health Group) to £16,914 (Nuffield Health), checked 22 September 2026, with the first consultation charged separately.
How much does a private hip replacement cost in the UK?
Published self-pay prices run from £12,750 (Circle Health Group) to £16,579 (Nuffield Health), checked 22 September 2026. The average is about £14,500.
Is the consultation included in the price?
Almost never. Practice Plus Group charges £95, Circle and Nuffield from £200, and Spire £204 at its Washington hospital. Scans ordered at that consultation are usually extra too.
How much cheaper is surgery abroad?
At OrthoVoyage's partner hospital in Poland a hip replacement is €6,940 (about £5,970) and a knee replacement €8,620 (about £7,420) — roughly half the UK published prices, before flights and hotel.
Sources
- Private knee replacement cost — Circle Health Group
- Private surgery costs — price list (correct as at June 2026) — Practice Plus Group
- Knee replacement (total knee replacement) — pricing — Nuffield Health
- Private knee replacement costs (LaingBuisson data, May 2025) — GoPrivate.com / LaingBuisson
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your GP or a specialist.
Related pages
How Much Does a Private Knee Replacement Cost in the UK? (2026 Prices)
A private knee replacement costs £11,000–£20,000 in the UK. The same operation with the same implant brands is about £7,420 in Poland. Full breakdown.
How Much Does a Private Hip Replacement Cost in the UK? (2026 Prices)
A private hip replacement costs £12,750–£16,579 in the UK. The same operation with the same implant brands is about £5,970 in Poland. Full breakdown.
Private Knee Replacement Prices by Hospital Group (2026): Spire, Nuffield, Circle, Ramsay, Practice Plus
Published self-pay knee replacement prices at Spire, Nuffield, Circle, Ramsay and Practice Plus — what each includes, why the same group differs by hospital.
How to Pay for a Private Hip or Knee Replacement: Finance, Loans and Deposits (UK, 2026)
How UK hospital finance for hip and knee replacement works: 0% terms, 14.9% APR examples, what a five-year plan really costs and how paying abroad differs.