Concierge psychiatry & pain · UK
Private ketamine infusions, for depression, suicidal thoughts and chronic pain.
Subanaesthetic IV ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, nasal esketamine (Spravato) under NICE TA854, and inpatient protocols for CRPS and chronic neuropathic pain — arranged with a named consultant, in a monitored setting.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Consultant psychiatry or pain, not a wellness clinic
Ketamine is a Class B Schedule 2 controlled drug. A named consultant psychiatrist or pain specialist prescribes and supervises — never a nurse-run infusion suite without medical cover.
- 02
The right protocol for the right problem
Racemic IV for treatment-resistant depression, nasal esketamine (Spravato) under NICE TA854, or the 5–10 day inpatient CRPS protocol — we match the pathway to the diagnosis.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private ketamine course costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A six-session TRD induction course in our network: £3,000–£5,000, over 2–4 weeks.
| Treatment | Indicative range | Typical duration | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| IV racemic ketamine — single session (TRD) | £400–£800 | 90 min | Same visit |
| IV ketamine — 6-session induction course | £3,000–£5,000 | 2–4 weeks | Weekly review |
| Maintenance IV session | £350–£700 | 90 min | Same visit |
| Nasal esketamine (Spravato) per treatment | £600–£1,000 | 2.5 hours | Same visit |
| CRPS / chronic pain inpatient infusion (5–10 days) | £8,000–£15,000 | 5–10 days | Inpatient stay |
| Consultation only | £250–£450 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which consultant leads the case, and by whether you need racemic IV, licensed Spravato or an inpatient CRPS admission. NHS access to ketamine is very limited outside a handful of specialist centres.
The problem
The right consultant, the right protocol, the right monitoring.
Ketamine has become a wellness-industry buzzword — and a serious controlled-drug therapy given badly in the wrong hands. We match the diagnosis to the right protocol, in a properly monitored setting.
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Depression, not tourism
For TRD we book a consultant psychiatrist with a real mood-disorder practice — not a boutique clinic offering "wellness drips".
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Pain, run by a pain team
CRPS and chronic neuropathic pain need a consultant anaesthetist and pain-team follow-up. Not a psychiatry infusion room.
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Controlled drug, controlled setting
Continuous BP, SpO₂ and ECG monitoring, resuscitation cover, Schedule 2 CD handling — the non-negotiables.
The journey
From enquiry to maintenance — what happens, in order.
One consultant from first message to review — including safeguarding and maintenance planning.
Phase 1 · Before your infusion
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Diagnosis, previous antidepressants or analgesics tried, and whether this is for mood, suicidal thoughts or pain.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether IV racemic ketamine, nasal esketamine or the CRPS inpatient protocol is the right fit, with a named consultant and indicative price.
- 03
Before
Baseline workup
Bloods, ECG, blood pressure, weight, medication review and a full consent conversation about dissociation, driving restrictions and the controlled-drug context.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Cannula sited, antiemetic given, BP/SpO₂/ECG monitoring attached. A quiet room, dim lighting, and a nurse or doctor at your side throughout.
- 05
On the day
The infusion itself
IV racemic 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes for TRD, or a titrated pain-dose infusion. Nasal esketamine is self-administered under supervision, two hours of observation after.
- 06
On the day
Recovery and home
Dissociation settles over 30–60 minutes. You are discharged with a responsible adult — no driving, no alcohol, no operating machinery for 24 hours.
- 07
After
Course and maintenance
Typical TRD course is 2–3 sessions weekly for 2–4 weeks, then maintenance every 2–4 weeks if you respond. Mood scores are tracked between sessions.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to first infusion. Induction course: 2–4 weeks.
When it helps
When ketamine is the right next step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means A&E rather than a booking.
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Treatment-resistant depression
A major depressive episode that has not responded to at least two adequate trials of antidepressants from different classes.
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Bipolar depression
Depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, given alongside a mood stabiliser and under psychiatric supervision.
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Acute suicidal ideation
Rapid antisuicidal effect within hours to days — used as a bridge while longer-term treatment takes hold, with full mental health follow-up.
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Complex regional pain syndrome
CRPS refractory to standard care — the 5–10 day inpatient infusion protocol is one of the few options with real evidence.
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Chronic neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain that has failed gabapentinoids, tricyclics, SNRIs and topical agents — ketamine can reset central sensitisation.
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Chronic post-surgical pain
Persistent pain months after surgery, once nerve entrapment and structural causes have been excluded.
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Cancer palliative pain
Adjunctive analgesia for cancer pain unresponsive to opioids and standard co-analgesics, under palliative care supervision.
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Red flag: acute suicide crisis alone
Active suicidal crisis without a wraparound mental health team is A&E, not a ketamine booking — safety comes first.
Protocols
IV racemic, nasal Spravato, or inpatient CRPS.
What each ketamine protocol actually involves — and which fits which problem.
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IV racemic ketamine for TRD
0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes, two to three times weekly for two to four weeks. Response typically shows within the first two sessions.
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Maintenance IV ketamine
A single infusion every two to four weeks to hold a response — dose and interval titrated to your mood scores.
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Nasal esketamine (Spravato)
NICE TA854 — Janssen’s esketamine, self-sprayed under supervision alongside a new oral antidepressant, with two-hour post-dose observation.
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CRPS inpatient protocol
0.5–1 mg/kg/hr continuous infusion over 5–10 days in a hospital bed with pain-team review, antiemetics and midazolam cover.
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Chronic pain outpatient infusion
A lower-dose subanaesthetic infusion over 1–4 hours for neuropathic or post-surgical pain, repeated as clinical benefit dictates.
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Perioperative opioid-sparing
A subanaesthetic ketamine adjunct during and after major surgery — an anaesthetist-led protocol, not a standalone treatment.
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Bipolar depression protocol
IV ketamine given only alongside an effective mood stabiliser, with careful monitoring for hypomanic or manic switch.
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Consultation only
An honest conversation with a consultant about whether ketamine is the right next step — or whether ECT, TMS or a medication change fits better.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of psychiatrists and pain consultants, we picked them.
Consultant-led mood-disorder and pain services across London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant psychiatrists (mood) or consultant anaesthetists / pain specialists (pain), not generalists
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MHRA-compliant controlled-drug handling and Schedule 2 CD register
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Continuous BP, SpO₂ and ECG monitoring with resuscitation cover on site
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Spravato-registered centres for nasal esketamine under NICE TA854
Safety and side effects
What to expect — honestly.
Ketamine is a powerful medicine with real short- and long-term risks. Contraindications, dissociation and the controlled-drug context all matter — and we talk them through before anything is booked.
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Transient blood pressure and heart rate rise
BP and heart rate climb during the infusion and settle within an hour. Untreated hypertension is a contraindication — we screen bloods and BP before booking.
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Dissociation is expected, not a side effect
Altered time, out-of-body sensations and visual distortion are part of the experience. A trained clinician is with you throughout and it resolves in 30–60 minutes.
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Nausea and dizziness
Common in the first hour. Prophylactic antiemetics are given routinely and you rest until safe to leave.
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No driving, no alcohol, no benzos for 24 hours
Ketamine plus alcohol or benzodiazepines is dangerous. A responsible adult must collect you and stay overnight after the first session.
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Ketamine cystitis with chronic use
Bladder inflammation and pain are dose- and duration-related. We keep courses short, plan maintenance carefully, and screen for urinary symptoms at every visit.
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Hepatobiliary changes with prolonged use
Long courses can affect liver and biliary tract — LFTs are checked periodically for anyone on maintenance beyond a few months.
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Addiction and misuse — a Schedule 2 CD
Ketamine is a controlled drug with real abuse potential. Active substance misuse is a contraindication and take-home supplies are never given.
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Not in pregnancy, psychosis or mania
Pregnancy, active psychosis or mania, severe hepatic impairment and untreated hypertension are absolute contraindications.
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Red flags after a session
Persistent hallucinations beyond a few hours, chest pain, severe headache or urinary bleeding are not normal — contact the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your session note
Your infusion note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever protocol you had, the note the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Psychiatric and pain 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 next session, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis and protocol chosen
Why the treatment was given — TRD, bipolar depression, CRPS, neuropathic pain — and which protocol (IV racemic, Spravato, inpatient) was used.
- 02 Technique
Dose, duration and monitoring
Milligrams per kilogram, infusion time, BP and HR trend during the session, antiemetics used, and any midazolam given for dissociation.
- 03 Findings
Response, dissociation, side effects
Mood or pain score before and after, level of dissociation experienced, and any nausea, BP spike or bladder symptoms noted.
- 04 Impression
Next session, maintenance, safeguarding
Read this first: when the next infusion is planned, what mental health follow-up is in place, and any safeguarding or driving instructions.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Insurance cover for ketamine is limited — Spravato is sometimes funded when the NICE TA854 criteria are met, but off-label IV racemic ketamine is usually self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about ketamine infusions.
Quick answers on legality, response rates, cost, and the long-term risks worth taking seriously.
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What is a ketamine infusion, and why is it used for depression?
A subanaesthetic dose of ketamine given slowly into a vein — typically 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes. It acts on the glutamate NMDA receptor and can lift a treatment-resistant depression within hours to days, when standard antidepressants have not worked.
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Is ketamine legal for depression in the UK?
Ketamine is a Class B, Schedule 2 controlled drug. It can be prescribed off-label by a consultant psychiatrist for treatment-resistant depression, and nasal esketamine (Spravato) is licensed and recommended under NICE TA854 as an adjunct to a new oral antidepressant.
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How quickly does ketamine work for depression or suicidal thoughts?
Many people feel a lift within 24 hours of the first infusion, and the antisuicidal effect can appear within hours. Around 50–70% respond during an acute course and 30–50% reach remission, but the effect wears off in days to weeks without maintenance.
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How much does a private ketamine course cost in the UK?
Roughly £400–£800 per IV session, £3,000–£5,000 for a 6-session induction course, and £350–£700 for maintenance. Nasal esketamine is £600–£1,000 per treatment. A CRPS inpatient protocol runs £8,000–£15,000. NHS access is very limited.
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What happens during the infusion?
You lie back in a quiet room with monitoring on. Over 40 minutes you feel dissociation — altered time, a floating sensation, sometimes visual distortion. A clinician is with you throughout. The effect fades over 30–60 minutes and you rest until safe to leave.
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Can ketamine treat chronic pain and CRPS?
Yes. For complex regional pain syndrome, a 5–10 day inpatient infusion at 0.5–1 mg/kg/hr is one of the few interventions with real evidence. Lower-dose outpatient infusions are used for chronic neuropathic pain, chronic post-surgical pain and cancer palliative care.
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Is ketamine addictive?
Ketamine is a controlled drug with genuine abuse potential — that is why it is Schedule 2. In a supervised medical setting with short courses and never any take-home supply, the addiction risk is low, but active substance misuse is an absolute contraindication.
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What are the long-term risks?
The two big ones are ketamine cystitis (bladder inflammation, dose- and duration-related) and hepatobiliary changes with prolonged use. We keep induction courses short, monitor urinary and liver function during maintenance, and stop or space sessions if problems appear.
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