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Rehabilitation · UK

Rehabilitation - getting your life back.

Consultant-led rehabilitation across orthopaedic, neurological, cardiac and post-surgical recovery. A named rehabilitation physician, a proper multidisciplinary team, and a written plan measured in outcomes - not visits.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What rehabilitation costs privately in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£3,500–£8,500, home or residential.

Procedure Indicative range
Consultant rehabilitation assessment £350–£650
Outpatient physiotherapy (per session) £85–£145
Home rehabilitation visit (per session) £130–£220
Six-week bespoke outpatient programme £3,500–£6,500
Residential neuro-rehab (per week) £4,500–£9,500
Cardiac rehabilitation programme (8–12 weeks) £1,800–£3,800
Vocational rehabilitation package £2,500–£6,000

Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, and by complexity.

The problem

Rehabilitation without a plan is a room full of resistance bands.

General clinics quietly under-deliver on three fronts - no measurable goals, no coordinated team, and no consultant driving the plan. We fix all three.

  • Goals in writing, in plain English

    Not "improve mobility" - "walk the dog to the corner shop by week six". Measurable, timed, honest.

  • One team, one plan

    Physio, OT, SLT, psychology and dietetics in the same room every week. Not seven appointments no one is joining up.

  • A consultant, not a session bundle

    A rehabilitation physician who sets the plan, reviews the measures and adjusts the pathway - the person you can call.

When it helps

When rehabilitation is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means treating something else first.

  • After joint replacement or major ortho

    Hip, knee, shoulder and spine surgery - outpatient or home rehab to hit ROM, strength and function targets by six weeks.

  • Stroke and other acquired brain injury

    Residential or intensive outpatient neuro-rehab - mobility, upper limb, cognition and communication in one plan.

  • Spinal cord injury

    Tetra- or paraplegia - a specialist SCI programme with equipment, bladder and bowel management, and community reintegration.

  • After a cardiac event

    Post-MI, PCI, valve surgery or heart failure - a supervised exercise, education and risk-factor programme over 8–12 weeks.

  • Complex sports and musculoskeletal injuries

    Return-to-play programmes with objective testing, isokinetic strength and criterion-based progression.

  • Cancer prehab and rehab

    Before and after surgery, chemo or radiotherapy - fatigue, strength, function, lymphoedema and psychological support.

  • Chronic pain and long-term conditions

    A pain-informed programme - pacing, graded exposure, psychology and medication review under a consultant.

  • Red flag: sudden neurological change

    New weakness, new numbness, bladder or bowel change, saddle anaesthesia or worsening headache - that is A&E, not a rehab booking.

Rehab pathways

The pathway decides the pace - and the price.

Outpatient, home, or residential - what each pathway means for hours per week, cost, and outcome.

  • Outpatient rehabilitation

    Two to five sessions per week in a clinic. Suits ortho, cardiac and most sports rehab. Cost-effective, needs travel.

  • Home rehabilitation

    The therapist comes to you. Best for early post-surgical, neuro or elderly patients where transport is a barrier.

  • Residential neuro-rehab

    Full days on-site for 2–8 weeks, typically for stroke, brain injury or SCI. Fastest gains, highest cost.

  • Cardiac rehabilitation

    Structured 8–12-week programme after MI, PCI, CABG, valve surgery or heart failure. Supervised exercise plus education.

  • Pulmonary rehabilitation

    For COPD, post-ICU, post-COVID and interstitial lung disease. Exercise, breathing and self-management over 6–8 weeks.

  • Vocational rehabilitation

    Structured return to work - graded hours, workstation, cognitive-communication support, employer liaison.

  • Prehabilitation

    Before scheduled surgery or cancer treatment - strength, nutrition, smoking cessation and mood. Shortens recovery.

  • Community and self-management

    A written maintenance programme with review points, digital check-ins and a clear route back if things regress.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established treatment. The things worth planning are the approach, the recovery, and knowing the honest risks.

  • Assessment before exercise, every time

    Blood pressure, oxygen saturation, symptom check and - for cardiac patients - an ECG and exercise tolerance review before each session as needed.

  • Falls prevention is part of the plan

    Balance testing, environmental review and progressive challenge. For older patients and neuro cases, this is not an optional add-on.

  • DVT and PE after surgery

    Early mobilisation is protective. Any new calf pain, swelling or breathlessness during rehab needs same-day medical review.

  • Cardiac safety on exertion

    Chest pain, dizziness, an abnormal blood-pressure response or arrhythmia stops the session and prompts a consultant call - no exceptions.

  • Overloading is a real risk

    Too much, too soon slows recovery and causes reinjury. Progression is criterion-based, not calendar-based. Pain that lasts overnight is a signal, not a badge.

  • Mental health matters

    Depression, anxiety and adjustment reactions are common after major illness or injury. A rehab psychologist is part of the team, not a referral you have to chase.

  • Medication review at every step

    Painkillers, sedatives and cardiac drugs interact with exercise and fatigue. A pharmacist or the consultant reviews the list at each stage.

  • Nutrition, hydration and sleep

    Recovery is metabolically expensive. A dietitian input, sleep review and hydration plan are standard for anything beyond a straightforward joint replacement.

  • Red flags during a programme

    New neurological signs, chest pain, sudden breathlessness, a fever or wound breakdown need urgent contact with the team - not next week’s session.

Reading your notes

Your rehab plan in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever pathway you take - outpatient, home, or residential - the written plan the consultant sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant in rehabilitation medicine reviewing a plan

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis, goals and pathway

    The clinical picture in plain English, the agreed goals in your words, and the pathway (outpatient, home, residential) with hours per week.

  2. 02 Team

    Who is doing what

    The physio, OT, SLT, psychologist, dietitian and nurse involved - and how they hand information to one another.

  3. 03 Findings

    Baseline and interim outcome measures

    ROM, strength, gait speed, ADL scores, six-minute walk, cognitive scores where relevant - with dates and numbers, not adjectives.

  4. 04 Impression

    Progression rules and discharge plan

    Read this first: what triggers a step-up, what triggers discharge, and the self-management programme you leave with.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Rehabilitation is usually covered when medically indicated - most policies fund a defined number of physiotherapy sessions and consultant reviews. Residential neuro-rehab often requires pre-authorisation.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about rehabilitation.

Quick answers on pathways, length, cost, insurer cover and the NHS comparison.

  • What is the difference between physiotherapy and rehabilitation?

    Physiotherapy is one discipline - assessment, exercise and manual therapy for movement problems. Rehabilitation is a broader, consultant-led programme that combines physiotherapy with occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, dietetics and nursing to restore function after illness or injury. Physiotherapy is often part of a rehabilitation programme, but not the whole of it.

  • How long does a rehabilitation programme last?

    It depends on the diagnosis. A straightforward post-surgical programme runs 4–8 weeks. Cardiac rehab is typically 8–12 weeks. Neurological rehab after stroke or brain injury can run 6 weeks to 6 months, sometimes with several admissions.

  • Is private rehab better than the NHS?

    The NHS provides excellent rehabilitation, particularly stroke and cardiac programmes, but access can be limited and intensity capped. Private care buys faster access, more hours per week, choice of clinician, and - where clinically indicated - residential admission. We will tell you if the NHS pathway is the right route.

  • Can I have rehabilitation at home?

    Yes. Home rehabilitation suits early post-surgical patients, neurological patients where travel is difficult, and older adults. Sessions cost more per hour than outpatient work but often reduce the total number of visits needed. It is our default for the first two weeks after major joint replacement.

  • How much does private rehabilitation cost in the UK?

    Roughly £85–£145 per outpatient session, £130–£220 for a home visit, £3,500–£6,500 for a six-week bespoke programme and £4,500–£9,500 per week for residential neuro-rehab. A firm quote follows the consultant assessment and pathway decision.

  • Will my insurer cover it?

    Most policies cover a defined number of physiotherapy sessions and consultant reviews when medically indicated. Residential neuro-rehab usually needs pre-authorisation with a written plan.

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