Concierge general surgery · UK
Private general surgery in the UK, by consultant sub-specialists.
General surgery is a broad specialty. Hernia, gallbladder, colorectal, upper GI, endocrine, breast, skin — each has its own consultant sub-specialist. We match you to the right one, in a CQC-regulated unit, on an ERAS pathway.
Why patients choose us
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A consultant general surgeon, sub-specialty matched
General surgery is a broad church. We match you to a colorectal, upper GI, HPB, endocrine, breast or hernia specialist — not whoever is free.
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Laparoscopic and robotic where it matters
For most abdominal and hernia work the gold standard is minimally invasive. We steer you toward units with the volume to do it well.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private general surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three surgeons.
In short
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our network: £6,500–£10,500, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation with consultant general surgeon | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder) | £6,500–£10,500 | Day case | 1–2 weeks off |
| Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair | £4,500–£7,500 | Day case | 1–2 weeks off |
| Umbilical / epigastric hernia repair | £3,500–£6,500 | Day case | 1–2 weeks off |
| Incisional / complex ventral hernia | £8,000–£18,000 | 1–3 nights | 4–6 weeks off |
| Laparoscopic anti-reflux (fundoplication / LINX) | £9,500–£15,000 | 1–2 nights | 2–3 weeks off |
| Laparoscopic colectomy (segmental) | £14,000–£24,000 | 3–5 nights | 4–6 weeks off |
| Thyroid lobectomy / hemi-thyroidectomy | £7,500–£12,500 | Day case / 1 night | 1–2 weeks off |
| Wide local excision + SLNB (breast) | £8,500–£14,000 | Day case / 1 night | 2–3 weeks off |
Prices vary by hospital, by consultant, by whether the approach is open, laparoscopic or robotic, and by length of stay. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right sub-specialist, the right hospital, the right approach.
NHS 2WW pathways work, but routine surgical waits stretch to months. In the private market the risk is the opposite — being booked in quickly, with the wrong surgeon, for the wrong operation.
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Not sure which specialty this is?
Hernia, breast, thyroid, bowel or gallbladder — we tell you which sub-specialist fits, and why.
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Waiting on the NHS?
If your case is genuinely urgent, we help you use the 2WW route. If it is routine and you want it done, private is faster.
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Wondering about robotic?
Robotic-assisted surgery genuinely helps in some operations, and is a marketing story in others. We tell you which is which.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One point of contact from first message to follow-up — including the ERAS-standard recovery.
Phase 1 · Before your operation
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A day case or a short admission
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, scans already done, whether it is a lump, a hernia, gallstones, reflux, bowel, breast or endocrine.
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Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right sub-specialist, the right hospital, and an indicative price. If you should be seen on the NHS 2WW pathway, we say so.
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Before
Consultation and workup
Consultation, examination and any imaging, endoscopy or bloods needed to plan the operation properly.
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On the day
Admission and consent
Admission, consent and a chat with the surgeon and anaesthetist. ERAS pathway from the first sip of pre-op carbohydrate drink.
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On the day
The operation itself
Laparoscopic, robotic or open in a CQC-regulated theatre by a named consultant — never a trainee list.
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On the day
Recovery and MDT if needed
Structured ERAS recovery. Cancer cases go through an MDT so the plan is properly ratified, not made by one voice.
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After
Follow-up and back to normal
Wound review, histology discussion where relevant, and a clear timeline for return to work, driving and exercise.
Typical end-to-end: 2–4 weeks from enquiry to operation. Full recovery: 1–6 weeks depending on the procedure.
When it helps
When a general surgeon is the right person to see.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than a clinic booking.
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Gallstones and biliary pain
Right-upper-quadrant pain after fatty food, proven gallstones on ultrasound — the mainstay is laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
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Reflux that will not settle
Reflux breaking through PPIs, or a large hiatus hernia — fundoplication or LINX are the operative options.
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A hernia in the groin, umbilicus or old scar
A lump that comes and goes, aches on standing, and gets worse with lifting. Repair is elective — until it strangulates.
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A change in bowel habit
Persistent change in bowel habit, bleeding or unexplained weight loss deserves colonoscopy first, then a colorectal surgeon if pathology is found.
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A thyroid or neck lump
A solitary thyroid nodule, a growing goitre or a suspicious neck lump — endocrine surgery, after ultrasound and FNA.
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A breast lump or nipple change
Any new breast lump, skin change or nipple discharge deserves triple assessment. Surgery follows only if needed.
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A lipoma, cyst or skin lesion
A lump under the skin, a sebaceous cyst that keeps flaring, or a lesion the GP wants excised — day-case general surgery.
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Red flag: acute abdomen
Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, distension, fever or a rigid abdomen is an emergency — same-day A&E, not a clinic booking.
Sub-specialties
General surgery is not one specialty — it is nine.
The scope of UK general surgery, and the sub-specialist you actually need for each.
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Upper GI & bariatric
Anti-reflux surgery, hiatus hernia repair, achalasia (Heller myotomy), bariatric — gastric bypass, sleeve, band, balloon.
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Colorectal
Colectomy, anterior resection, APER, Hartmann’s, stoma formation and reversal, diverticular and IBD surgery, IPAA, appendicectomy, TEMS.
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Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB)
Cholecystectomy, complex biliary work, pancreatic resection (Whipple, distal), liver resection and transplant — in specialist units.
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Endocrine
Hemi- and total thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, adrenalectomy, phaeochromocytoma — in high-volume endocrine centres.
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Breast
Wide local excision, mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary node clearance, and reconstruction in partnership with plastics.
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Hernia
Inguinal, femoral, umbilical, epigastric, incisional, hiatus, Spigelian and sportsman’s hernia — open, laparoscopic or robotic.
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Skin & soft tissue
Lipoma, sebaceous cyst, abscess drainage, complex wound care, and referral pathways for suspected soft-tissue sarcoma.
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Emergency general surgery
Acute appendicitis, cholecystitis, obstruction, perforation, mesenteric ischaemia — via emergency admission, not the private route.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant general surgeons across the UK — sub-specialty matched. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every general surgeon in our network.
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Consultant general surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register, CCT via HST plus sub-specialty fellowship
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RCS England / ASGBI / SBOTS-affiliated, working in CQC-regulated hospitals
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Laparoscopic and, where appropriate, robotic (da Vinci Xi, Hugo, Versius) volumes to match
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MDT-driven decision-making for all cancer work, with pathology and radiology on the call
Safety and recovery
What to expect around surgery — honestly.
UK general surgery is safe and evidence-driven. The things worth planning are the approach (open, laparoscopic, robotic), the ERAS pathway, and the graded return to normal.
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ERAS is the default
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery — carbohydrate loading, minimal fasting, early mobilisation, opioid-sparing pain relief — is standard, not optional.
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Laparoscopic where possible
Over 90% of cholecystectomies, most hernias and most colorectal resections are done laparoscopically. Faster recovery, smaller scars, fewer chest complications.
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Robotic is a tool, not magic
Robotic-assisted surgery genuinely helps in pelvic colorectal work, complex ventral hernia and some bariatric cases. In many others the benefit over laparoscopy is marginal.
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VTE prophylaxis is routine
Blood thinners and compression stockings around surgery cut clot risk. We insist on units that follow the national protocol.
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Second opinions are welcomed
A good surgeon expects, and encourages, a second opinion on any elective operation. Cancer cases already get one via the MDT.
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Cancer surgery goes through an MDT
No cancer decision should rest on one voice. The MDT — surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, specialist nurse — ratifies the plan.
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Consent is a conversation
Risks, benefits, alternatives and the option of no surgery — properly discussed, with time to think and question. Not a form pushed under a pen.
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Return to normal is graded
Driving, work, lifting and exercise all have a timeline depending on the operation. You will be told, in writing, what applies to you.
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Red flags after surgery
Fever, spreading redness, worsening pain, bleeding, breathlessness or a swollen calf are not normal — call the ward or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever operation was performed, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis and operation performed
Why the operation was done — the diagnosis in plain language — and exactly which procedure was carried out.
- 02 Technique
Approach, anaesthetic and findings
Whether it was laparoscopic, robotic or open, the anaesthetic used, and the intra-operative findings the surgeon documented.
- 03 Findings
Histology and staging where relevant
Any tissue sent to the lab, the pathology result, and — for cancer — the stage and margins. Discussed at MDT before you are told.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, follow-up and back-to-normal
Read this first: expected recovery, wound care, when to return to work, driving and exercise, and when your follow-up is booked.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for general surgery varies by insurer and by indication — most medically indicated operations are funded, cosmetic procedures are self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about general surgery.
Quick answers on what the specialty covers, NHS vs private, laparoscopic vs robotic, and how MDT-driven cancer surgery works.
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What is general surgery, exactly?
General surgery is the UK specialty that covers the abdominal wall, alimentary tract, endocrine glands (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal), breast, skin and soft tissue, and emergency abdominal surgery. It is the foundation from which most sub-specialties — colorectal, upper GI, HPB, endocrine, breast, vascular — split off.
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How is a general surgeon different from a urologist, orthopaedic or plastic surgeon?
Distinct specialties. Urology is the urinary tract and male reproductive organs, orthopaedics is bone and joint, plastics is reconstruction and skin, cardiothoracic is heart and chest. General surgery is the abdomen, hernia, breast, endocrine and soft tissue — and increasingly split into sub-specialties within that.
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Do I need a GP referral to see a private general surgeon?
For most insurers, yes — a GP letter is needed to activate cover. For self-pay you can be seen directly, though a GP letter with any prior tests still helps the surgeon plan properly.
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What does “laparoscopic” or “keyhole” actually mean?
Small (5–12 mm) incisions, a camera and long instruments, and the abdomen inflated with CO₂. For most gallbladder, hernia and colorectal work it means a faster recovery, less pain, smaller scars and fewer chest complications than open surgery.
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Is robotic surgery better than laparoscopic?
Sometimes. In pelvic colorectal surgery, complex ventral hernia and some bariatric cases robotic-assisted surgery has genuine advantages. In simple cholecystectomy or straightforward hernia the difference is small — and the cost higher. A good surgeon will tell you which applies.
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What is an MDT and why does cancer surgery need one?
A Multidisciplinary Team meeting brings surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and specialist nurse into one room, weekly, to ratify every cancer plan. It exists because no single voice should drive a cancer decision. Every UK cancer case, NHS or private, goes through one.
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How much time off work should I plan for?
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy or hernia repair is one to two weeks. A colectomy or complex ventral hernia is four to six. A breast wide-local-excision is two to three. We give you a written timeline with the quote.
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When should I go to A&E rather than book privately?
Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, a rigid abdomen, high fever, a strangulated hernia (painful, red, cannot be pushed back), heavy bleeding or breathlessness after recent surgery — same-day A&E, always.
Related treatments
Looking for something more specific?
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Colorectal surgery
Bowel, rectal and pelvic surgery by colorectal consultants.
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Abdominal & hernia service
Comprehensive abdominal wall and hernia repair.
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Cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal for gallstones.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more