How much does private spinal surgery cost in the UK?

Protocol Archive → Will it be covered? → Spinal decompression and fusion → Self-pay

How much does private spinal surgery cost in the UK?

General information only. Not medical, insurance or legal advice. Coverage rules and prices change, so confirm with your insurer or public health service (such as the NHS, HSE or Medicare) before booking, and ask your doctor whether a procedure is right for you.

Last checked: October 2026 · Protocol Archive Editorial · General information, not medical, insurance or legal advice

Published prices

Published UK self-pay prices at the providers we checked range from about £7,475 to £10,123 for slipped disc surgery or decompression (some quote hospital charges only), and from about £14,400 to £17,300 for fusion.

Providers that publish prices include Practice Plus Group, Spire Leicester, The Horder Centre, Ramsay Park Hill Hospital (Doncaster) and Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth (London).

Prices change and depend on what is included, so ask the provider for a full written quote before you book.

These are guide or “from” prices from the providers’ own pages. Always ask for a written, fixed-price quote. We could not find a published all-inclusive price for lumbar fusion from a major hospital group.

What to check before you pay

  • Are surgeon, anaesthetist, scans and implants included?
  • How many nights in hospital are included?
  • Is physiotherapy after surgery included?
  • What happens, and what does it cost, if there is a complication?

Frequently asked questions

Why do spinal surgery prices vary so much?

Prices depend on the operation, how many levels of the spine are treated, implants, length of stay and what fees are included. Compare what is included, not just the headline price.

What usually comes first

For sciatica, the NHS advises keeping up normal activities as much as you can and starting gentle exercise as soon as you can. Most sciatica improves within a few weeks to a few months. NICE says to consider decompression surgery for sciatica when non-surgical treatment has not improved pain or function and scans match the symptoms.

Go to A&E or call 999 if you have sciatica on both sides, severe or worsening weakness or numbness in both legs, numbness around your genitals or bottom, or problems peeing or controlling your bladder or bowels.

A physiotherapist can tailor an exercise plan to you, before or after surgery.

Sources

  1. Practice Plus Group: Spinal surgery
  2. Spire Leicester Hospital: Back surgery (self-pay prices)
  3. The Horder Centre: Self-pay treatment prices (from 1 January 2026)
  4. Ramsay Park Hill Hospital: Lumbar spinal decompression (guide price)
  5. Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth: Spinal decompression surgery
  6. Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth: Spinal fusion
  7. NICE guideline NG59: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s, recommendations 1.3.7 to 1.3.10 (surgery)
  8. NHS: Sciatica

Last checked October 2026. Found something out of date? Email hello@protocolarchive.com.

This page explains how coverage usually works, using public NHS, insurer, ombudsman and government sources listed above. It is general information, not medical, insurance, financial or legal advice, and it does not recommend any treatment, policy or provider. Rules differ by area and by policy and can change, so confirm with your GP, your insurer or the hospital before you decide. Protocol Archive is independent and is not affiliated with the NHS, the HSE or any insurer.