When accessing private gynaecology care, there’s a wealth of options now publicly available and a range of hospitals and Consultants to choose from online. This, however, means that it can often be confusing to understand just how much various aspects of care can cost and it can also be difficult to know exactly what you may have to pay for when accessing a gynaecologist and what services are actually included in that price.
How much does it cost to see a gynaecologist privately?
The cost of seeing a gyanecologist privately ranges from £200 to £400 on average for an initial consultation.
Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to accessing a gynaecologist privately. Fees will vary based on location, the individual consultant’s credentials and area of expertise. For the most accurate estimate take a look at our Fees and Insurance information.
We’ve outlined some of the wider costs involved in private treatment to help you plan ahead- whoever you entrust with your care.
Cost of Insurance vs Self-Pay When Seeing a Private Gynaecologist
Private medical care is usually funded either through private medical insurance or the ability to ‘self-pay’. Most private gynaecologists are fee-assured, which means that they adhere to consultation fees specified by health insurance companies they are recognised by such as Aviva, Bupa, AXA or Vitality and your consultant can bill these companies directly for your care if you are covered, provided no excess is incurred with your insurance policy.
If you choose to self-pay for your consultation, consultant fees may vary as stated above. You should confirm the cost of a consultation with your chosen consultant ahead of your appointment and, if you are covered by health insurance, you can also check with your insurance provider if a particular consultant is covered by your policy, and whether they are fee-assured.
As a result of your consultation and depending on your symptoms, your gynaecologist may suggest you need diagnostic tests or scans to obtain a clear and accurate diagnosis, such as ultrasound, CT or MRI scan or a blood test. The type of tests and scans your gynaecologist may refer you for will be based on your symptoms and complaints.
Not only will the cost depend on the type of test or scan required, but also on where you choose to have these tests. Generally, most consultants have an idea on the costs of these tests, and we recommend that, especially if you are self-paying, you enquire from your consultant during the clinic appointments on the estimates of any recommended tests or diagnostics.
Cost of private gynaecologist in London
Private clinics and hospitals in central London are likely to be more expensive but there are also other factors that determine how expensive a hospital’s services are, including its Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating, its reviews and the range and the quality of its facilities.
Some cutting-edge diagnostic tests offer particularly accurate or precise results but may be less widely available and therefore more expensive to access or not yet covered by private health insurance.
As with consultations, you can check what tests and scans are covered by your insurance policy if you are choosing not to pay directly for your care.
Should diagnostic tests or scans show that you require treatment, the cost for this will again vary depending on your choice of hospital or clinic and the nature of the treatment you are undergoing. If you are choosing to self-pay for your treatment it is worth checking fees with the hospital or clinic you are accessing directly.
Regardless of whether you access private medical insurance or choose to self-pay, either your insurer or you will receive separate bills from your chosen hospital and the Consultant whose care you are under. This is because although a consultant gynaecologist may have practicing privileges at the private hospital where they see and treat you, they will not be involved in or in control of hospital fees.
Your hospital fee will cover a wide range of expenses including the cost of your room, food and drink, nursing care and the cost of accessing treatment facilities. There may also be charges for medication, some of which you may take away as part of an ongoing treatment plan. It will not however, cover the cost of your consultant.
Your consultant will bill either you or your insurance provider separately for their time in treating you and if you undergo surgery, there may be some additional fees for the other consultants involved in your procedure, such as anaesthetic input, and histopathological analysis of any tissue specimens obtained during your surgery.
Generally major surgery with required overnight stay in hospital will be more expensive than minor procedures that can be treated as day-cases, and you will have to check the details of your insurance policy to confirm what major procedures are covered. This is because there are often more Consultants involved in a major procedure and patients spend more time recovering in hospital, incurring all the costs involved in 24/7 complex care.
While searching for a private care provider or a specific consultant gynaecologist you may see some pre-packed prices for procedures or diagnostic tests. These are often offered to self-paying patients undergoing routine procedures or looking to undergo a range of tests to gain a better understanding of their gynaecological health or fertility. They are less commonly offered for more complex cases, including cancer care.
Whatever treatment you access, you’ll likely receive specific aftercare instructions and be asked to visit your consultant for a follow up appointment to ensure you’re recovering well and your symptoms are improving. Again, the cost of this follow up appointments will depend on each individual Consultant’s policies. Some consultants will include the cost of a follow up appointments, while others will charge separately for these.
Seeking treatment for gynaecological conditions can be daunting, without the added confusion of knowing how much your treatment will cost. Whoever you choose to see for your gynaecological care, do not hesitate to seek clarity about prices from your consultant’s private practice, hospital or clinic and query any additional costs that you may need to plan for.
Your insurance provider should also be able to give you detailed breakdown of the tests, procedures and additional services covered by your policy, including the tests that might fall outside of your policy and you should always access this information prior to accessing care to avoid any unwanted charges down the line.
At The Harley Street Clinic’s One-Stop Gynaecology Service, we try to minimise multiple trips into hospital for patients, saving them energy, time and money whenever possible. We aim to conduct tests and scans on the same day of your consultation. When suitable, myself and the team offer a wide range of minimally invasive treatment options, which can avoid the need for invasive and costly surgical procedures while maintaining excellent outcomes.
I hope that the information outlined is a useful resource that gives you both confidence and peace of mind as you seek care.
Author: Mr Osama Naji
Mr Naji offers a “one-stop” gynaecology clinic for instant detection of various gynaecological cancers as well as providing all the diagnostic and treatment services needed under one roof.
Mr Naji provides advanced gynaecology scanning which is essential when conducting any gynaecology consultation, he is bilingual in English and Arabic and has an NHS base at the highly reputable Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital London.
He is passionate about raising awareness of various subtle signs and symptoms of gynaecological conditions that are often overlooked by patients.