Private endoscopy: costs and colonoscopy vs gastroscopy explained

If you're facing a lengthy wait on the NHS and coping with unpleasant symptoms, paying for an endoscopy may feel like an attractive option.

In the private system, tests can happen within days rather than months, and if you're nervous about the procedure, you're also more likely to be able to request deeper sedation. 

That said, it pays to examine the small print with a forensic eye. Many providers advertise a ‘from’ price, and once you start totting up what's extra, your bill can quickly soar.

Here we explain more about what a private diagnostic endoscopy typically covers, what tends to cost extra and the important questions you need to ask before you commit.   

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What is an endoscopy?  

An endoscopy is a medical procedure that uses an endoscope – a long, thin tube with a tiny light and camera – to look inside the body.

The most common tests are a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy, both usually done with conscious sedation for comfort (we explain what this involves later). 

Others include a colposcopy (to check the cervix), a cystoscopy (to check the bladder) and a hysteroscopy (to check the womb).

What is a gastroscopy?

During a gastroscopy, a doctor passes the tube through the throat to look inside the oesophagus and stomach. This helps to identify what's causing symptoms such as heartburn or pain, or why you may be having trouble swallowing. 

What is a colonoscopy?

In a colonoscopy, a tube is passed through the anus to examine the bowel. This helps to find the cause of symptoms like bleeding, pain, constipation or diarrhoea. It is also used to check for polyps that could develop into cancer. 

What can be detected by an endoscopy?

Endoscopies are used to investigate and help diagnose a range of conditions that may be behind your symptoms. For example, a gastroscopy can check for growths in your upper digestive tract. A colonoscopy can check for polyps in your bowel. Most of the time, polyps are harmless. However, as they can sometimes become cancerous, it's best to have them checked. If found during an endoscopy, they can be removed and tested. 

How much does a private diagnostic endoscopy cost?

Private endoscopy prices in the UK vary widely, costing anywhere from £1,500 to upwards of £3,300. 

High-volume specialists, such as Practice Plus Group and Vista Health, tend to sit at the more affordable end and offer standardised fixed-price packages. Costs are a bit higher at national private hospital groups, such as Circle Health, Nuffield Health and Spire.

Some providers offer an inclusive package, but many others advertise a ‘from’ price that excludes the initial consultation and diagnostic tests, and costs can rise sharply once you add on consultant and anaesthetist fees. Interventions like polyp removal are often extra, as are laboratory fees to process biopsy results.

Even a package billed as ‘inclusive’ is worth checking carefully – ‘inclusive’ doesn’t always mean the same thing to every provider.

Our tables give a snapshot of the cost of a gastroscopy and colonoscopy at some of the largest private clinics and hospitals, as well as what you might expect to pay for extras. 

How soon could I get a private colonoscopy compared to the NHS wait time?

Since most people go private to avoid long waits (and worry), speed is paramount. Many hospitals offer an initial consultation within 48 hours of getting in touch, with the procedure itself typically booked within a few days to three weeks. 

The latest NHS data from June 2026 shows that just over a third of patients are waiting six weeks or more for a colonoscopy or gastroscopy – a sharp increase on the previous year. Roughly 15% of NHS patients wait more than 13 weeks.

Median waits average three to four weeks, but it’s worth bearing in mind that these figures also include urgent, suspected-cancer referrals which are fast-tracked and seen much more quickly. 

Wait times vary sharply by NHS trust, so it's worth checking your own area's figures. In England, you also have the right to choose a different NHS provider if your local trust is especially stretched.

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Can I just book an endoscopy privately or does my GP need to sign it off?

Legally, you don’t need a GP’s referral to book a private endoscopy. In practice, some providers will ask for one, but if you don’t have one, most will issue a referral as part of their standard initial consultation fee.

How might my experience at a private endoscopy clinic differ from the NHS?

Private clinics don’t do any different kind of test – they use the same endoscopes, employ the same techniques and follow the same safety standards as the NHS. What tends to feel different is everything around the procedure: how long you wait, how much control you have over the date and time, the sedation options on offer, and the general atmosphere. 

Private units are often smaller and quieter, sometimes with more hotel‑like surroundings at the premium end of the market. You’ll usually have more flexibility to pick a slot that works around arranging for someone to drive you home after sedation.

You’re also likely to be treated by a named consultant you’ve chosen, and to see the same person throughout. On the NHS, you’ll be seen by the member of staff who is working that day. 

Private clinics often offer same‑day results and more time to sit down and talk through what was found, whether any biopsies were taken, and what happens next. After a colonoscopy, the immediate recovery can be unpleasant – patients may experience gas pains, abdominal bloating and cramping. Private providers are more likely to offer a private recovery room as standard, whereas NHS units will usually offer more limited privacy in a busier ward.

Are you put to sleep during a gastroscopy?

On the NHS and privately, many people choose conscious sedation for endoscopies. For a gastroscopy, this typically involves a throat‑numbing spray to suppress the gag reflex, plus an intravenous sedative with or without an opioid painkiller to make you feel relaxed and drowsy. For a colonoscopy, you may be offered the same kind of intravenous sedative, plus maybe gas and air, depending on your preference and the hospital.

There’s no need to be completely knocked out, and you should discuss any anxiety or concerns you may have with your GP or NHS consultant. If you’d still prefer to be unconscious, that’s easier to request privately. Anaesthetist‑led propofol is a deeper level of sedation that keeps you effectively asleep for the test. It’s described as a modern alternative to full general anaesthetic, with less of the ‘hangover’ grogginess afterwards. However, it does cost extra and it’s not suitable for everyone. 

On the NHS, propofol or general anaesthetic is reserved for more complex procedures. Dr Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the University Hospital of South Manchester, explains: ‘It can be helpful for very difficult cases where you expect a lot of scarring or adhesions, but for most people it isn’t needed – and there are times when having the patient awake and able to respond actually makes the procedure safer.’

Do private clinics offer low-volume bowel preps so I don't have to drink gallons of fluids?

For some patients, the bowel-prep laxatives – rather than the procedure itself – are the worst part of a colonoscopy, since they typically bring on diarrhoea and sometimes nausea. They taste unpleasant too. 

Older regimens required drinking up to four litres of solution. Most providers, NHS and private, have since moved to lower-volume options: Moviprep (roughly three litres total) and the newer Plenvu (around a litre). 

Moviprep is the most widely used first-line option across the NHS – with some trusts and private providers also offering Plenvu. Privately, you may have marginally more choice of formulation, but your doctor still prescribes what's clinically appropriate for your health, not simply what you're paying for.

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What should I look for when researching a private diagnostic endoscopy consultant and unit?

• GMC Specialist Register: Ensure your endoscopist is on the General Medical Council Specialist Register for gastroenterology, colorectal surgery or upper GI surgery.
• JAG accreditation: Ask whether the unit is accredited to the Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy (JAG) – this is the UK's formal quality mark covering safety, patient experience, staffing and outcomes. JAG itself notes that lacking accreditation doesn't automatically mean unsafe care, but it's a useful screening question.
• Caecal intubation rate (CIR): Enquire about the endoscopist's personal CIR – the percentage of colonoscopies in which they successfully advance the camera all the way to the caecum, where the small bowel meets the large bowel. ‘To do a proper colonoscopy you do really need to reach the caecum, because if there's a carcinoma there and you miss it, that can be dangerous,’ says Dr Peter Whorwell. UK-wide standards expect every colonoscopist to reach the caecum in at least 90% of procedures, with an aspiration of 95%.
• Adenoma detection rate (ADR): Ask about their ADR too – the percentage of screening colonoscopy patients in whom they find at least one precancerous polyp. UK-wide standards say colonoscopists should find adenomas in at least 15% of patients on routine lists. Consultants are expected to track both figures and be able to disclose them.
• Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN): Use the independent PHIN website, an independent information network for private medicine, to find out more about your consultant – their procedure volumes, patient feedback and typical fees.

Other questions to ask when you get your quote

If I go private for the endoscopy, can I switch back to the NHS if they find something serious?

Yes. Every patient has the right to transfer back into NHS care after a private test, and your place on any NHS waiting list won't be affected – you join at the same point you would have if a test had happened on the NHS from the start.

If your gastroscopy or colonoscopy finds something that needs ongoing care – such as acid reflux, Barrett's oesophagus or inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis – transferring your care to the NHS is often the most practical move. This prevents you from paying indefinitely for regular consultations and private prescriptions.

Crucially, it's your private specialist's job to arrange this handover, not your GP's – the referral should go consultant-to-consultant, straight into the relevant NHS clinic. One caveat: NHS teams aren't obliged to simply adopt a private specialist's diagnosis or treatment plan wholesale – they may want to carry out their own assessment first. 

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Financing options

Many clinics now offer ways to spread the cost of an endoscopy. Typically, most clinics offer two broad types of finance: 

• Short‑term interest‑free instalment plans. Some providers partner with finance companies to let you pay with 0% interest over several months, usually between 10 and 12 months, sometimes longer. You often have to pay an upfront deposit with the balance split into fixed monthly payments.
• Longer‑term credit agreements with interest. Some clinics also partner with finance companies to offer loans over a longer term. These come with interest, so the total you repay is higher than the headline test price, even if the monthly amount looks manageable.

Whatever you choose, make sure to look beyond the monthly figure. 

Check that the finance company used is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Work out how much you’ll pay in total and whether you can repay early without penalties. 

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