A guide to deciding if private care is right for you
With private healthcare, you can avoid NHS waiting times and get straight to the treatment you need
If you’re trying to decide whether private healthcare is the right choice for you, this blog explains the reasons behind current waiting lists for treatment, and outlines the key benefits of going private, including just how quickly you can access the care you need.
What are the current NHS waiting times?
The NHS healthcare service is a vast network system of hospitals, health centres, GP practices, pharmacies and more. It has been the cornerstone of the British healthcare system since 1948, consistently delivering high-quality care and specialised surgical treatment.
However, due to various challenges, a treatment backlog has developed, meaning some patients have been waiting over 18 weeks to be seen by a specialist, with some areas particularly affected, such as trauma and orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services. As of October 2025, these specialties made up one fifth of the total waiting list size on the NHS.
As of October 2025, in total, 38% of NHS patients were waiting more than 18 weeks to receive non-urgent treatment. Although this is an improvement from previous years, this performance remains significantly below the 8% NHS constitutional standard and is also below the interim set target of 35% by March 2026.
Why am I experiencing long waiting times for treatment on the NHS?
In recent years, the NHS has faced many challenges that have led to increased pressure on the services they offer. High patient demand, limited resources, staff shortages, and budget constraints have all contributed to delays in diagnostics and treatment. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues.
Can I avoid the NHS waiting list?
It’s not possible to fast track treatment on the NHS, unless your condition has become worse or you stress the urgency of your concern. Even then, there is no guarantee that this change in priority on the waiting list will mean you’ll get treatment when you need it.
If you want to explore your options on the NHS, you could get in contact with hospitals in a neighbouring county or in another region of England to see whether waiting times for treatment are shorter.
Another option to explore is private healthcare treatment. Generally, waiting list times are significantly shorter with the average time from consultation to surgery being around 4-6 weeks.
The benefits of private healthcare
There are many benefits of choosing private healthcare that can help you overcome the hurdles of waiting on the NHS and get the care you need.
Some of the advantages of choosing private care for your healthcare journey include:
- Specialist access – get access to specialist consultants with expertise in your specific condition
- Personalised care – receive bespoke treatment plans, built around your needs
- Privacy – private facilities often have comfy private rooms, should you need to stay overnight
- Comfort – recover from treatment in a private room with an ensuite bathroom and eat quality meals
- Consistent care – experience more one-on-one time and a better consistency of care
- Choice of doctor – you can choose which consultant you will see
- Choice of hospital – you have the option to choose a location nearest to where you live
- Advanced technology – gain access to new technologies and state-of-the-art facilities
One of the top benefits of going private is the short waiting times for diagnostics and treatment. Private healthcare can significantly slice the time it takes to get treatment.
For example, the national average wait time for hip replacement surgery on the NHS is 6 months (27.4 weeks), as of February 2025. With Circle Health Group, you can typically expect to receive treatment within two to six weeks. This means less time spent worrying and living in discomfort as you can fast-track your healthcare journey.
Will going for private healthcare lose my ‘place’ in the NHS?
Going through private healthcare system has no effect whatsoever on your status as an NHS patient.
Are all private healthcare providers the same?
Healthcare providers in the UK range from large, nationally available hospital groups to smaller, independent providers, which often specialise in one type of treatment.
While smaller providers have become more numerous in recent years, there are significant benefits to choosing a larger and more established provider. Not only will you enjoy the convenience of multiple locations and thousands of specialists to choose from, but you’ll also have the reassurance of a seamless pathway from consultation to recovery. Everything from imaging and diagnostics through surgery to physiotherapy can be offered by one provider and typically under one roof, and if there were ever a need for further treatment or consultation with additional specialists, onwards referral would be seamless.
How quickly can I access private healthcare?
The exact waiting times will vary from hospital to hospital and from consultant to consultant but, in most cases, you can access private healthcare within a few days or a couple of weeks at most.
At Circle Health Group, you’ll find many of our consultants have appointments available within 48 hours – and some even sooner. Once you have a firm diagnosis and have agreed on a treatment plan, we’ll get this booked in without delay. The wait tends to be a matter of weeks rather than months, and many of our patients.
What are my payment options for private healthcare?
Private medical care has never been more accessible as it is now. There are many ways to pay for private healthcare, including self-pay, private medical insurance, and payment plans.Self-pay healthcare
Self-pay is the option to pay for your medical care with your own funds without using insurance. Many people take a self-pay approach to health, putting money away to pay their medical expenses.
This option allows you to pay for what you need, when you need it. You might think of it as pay-as-you-go healthcare.
At Circle Health Group, we accept self-payment options on all our services, and we offer a wide range of treatments at varying costs. Find out more about some of our fixed priced treatment costs here.
Monthly payment plans
If you aren’t able to pay the full cost of your care upfront, or would prefer not to pay all at once, you can still access private treatment. At Circle Health Group, we work with Chrysalis Finance to offer fixed-term loans to cover the cost of your treatment at any of our hospitals. You can borrow as little as £250 and up to £25,000 (subject to eligibility).
You’ll then pay for your treatment in monthly instalments over a time period you choose – from 10 months to five years. If you choose 10 months, your payments will be interest free. If you choose a longer repayment period, the interest is 9.9% APR.
You’ll find lots of information about flexible payment options on this page.
Private medical insurance
Medical insurance is a way to help pay for health care costs, so you don’t have to cover everything out of pocket. This partnership between you and an insurance company means you’ll make regular payments (premiums) to them, and, in return, the insurer will cover some of your medical expenses when you need care.
This means that throughout the year, you are covered even if an unexpected illness or accident occurs.
Some companies offer private medical insurance as part of their workplace benefits, often at no additional cost. It is worth enquiring whether this might be the case for your company, as you may be missing out on free private medical insurance that can help fast track your care. Many people have health insurance and don’t use it, or even don’t realise they have it, so it’s definitely worth checking.
At Circle Health Group, we work with all major private healthcare providers in the UK and also with a variety of international insurers. Learn more about how to use private medical insurance with us here.
Getting private healthcare with Circle Health Group
If you're facing lengthy NHS waiting times, Circle Health Group can offer you a faster path to the expert care that you need.
As one of the UK's largest private healthcare providers, with over 50 hospitals nationwide, we provide appointments often within 48 hours of contacting us, with flexible appointment times available from Monday to Saturday. We're committed to making exceptional healthcare accessible when you need it most.
Our network of over 6,000 expert consultants across the country covers more than 60 specialties, all supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic technology. With 98% of our patients saying they'd recommend us to their loved ones, you can trust that you'll receive compassionate, expert care tailored to your individual needs.
Let us help you feel better, faster. Call us for more information or book your first consultation online to start your treatment journey today.
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If you're concerned about symptoms you're experiencing or require further information on this subject, talk to a GP or see an expert consultant at your local Circle Hospital.