Established practice
Insured patients are falling. Self-pay is at a record high. Are you set up to win them?
Insured private admissions fell in early 2026 for the first time in five years, while self-pay hit a record. Self-pay patients choose differently. Here's how to be the consultant they pick.
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It only takes one to cost you.
- steps
- 7
- steps
- to start
- 2 hours
- to start
The short answer
PHIN data shows self-pay admissions rose 7.7% in Q1 2026 compared with Q1 2025, to their highest recorded level, while insured admissions fell 2.6%. Self-pay patients compare prices and book whoever answers clearly and quickly. Agree all-inclusive package prices for your top three procedures with your hospital, publish them, and reply to every price enquiry the same day.
What good looks like
Where you stand, before and after
Clear package prices for your top procedures
- Patients can book a consultation online
- Every enquiry answered the same day
Illustrative sample, not a real person or result.
7 steps
Do it yourself: step by step
0 of 7 done
Pull 12 months of enquiries and bookings from your practice system or diary and list which procedures self-pay patients ask about most, and which convert
- Time
- 2 hours
- Typical cost
- Free
- Who does it
- You or your secretary
Why it matters
Self-pay patients search by procedure, not by consultant name.
Done when: You have three procedures ranked by enquiry volume
Official guidance: PHIN private market update
Official guidance: PHIN
This problem is Solvable.
Copy this template
Self-pay enquiry reply template
Free to copy, adapt and use. No sign-up.
Self-pay enquiry reply
Subject: Your enquiry about [procedure] with [Mr/Ms/Dr Name]
Dear [patient name],
Thank you for getting in touch about [procedure].
Consultation: £[amount] for an initial consultation with [consultant name] at [hospital]. Follow-up appointments are £[amount].
If you go ahead with [procedure], the all-inclusive package price is £[amount]. This includes:
- the surgeon's fee
- the anaesthetist's fee
- your hospital stay and theatre costs
- [implants or devices, if relevant]
- follow-up appointments for [number] weeks after surgery
Not included: [for example, pre-operative scans if needed, or treatment of unrelated conditions]. If anything else is needed, we will tell you the cost in writing before it happens.
The price is valid for [90] days and is confirmed in writing after your consultation, once [consultant name] has assessed you.
Next available consultation: [day, date, time] at [hospital].
To book, reply to this email or call [number]. Some hospitals offer ways to spread the cost; the hospital's self-pay team can tell you what is available.
Kind regards, [Secretary name] On behalf of [consultant name]
---
Follow-up, three working days later
Dear [patient name], I wanted to check you received the price for [procedure]. We still have availability on [date]. If you have any questions about what is included, I am happy to help. [Secretary name]
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Quoting the surgeon fee only, so the patient meets the hospital bill later.
- Different prices on the website, the hospital site and the directory.
- Replying to price enquiries days later, by which time the patient has booked elsewhere.
- Saying 'it depends' without giving a typical range.
- Never following up an enquiry that went quiet.
Free personal check
Done by Paul Robinson, not software
I'll enquire once as a self-pay patient and report how quickly and clearly you answer
What I need from you
- Your consent
- The phone number or enquiry form patients use
- The procedure you want me to ask about
What you get
- What happened, step by step, and how long it took
- Whether I got a clear price
- The three changes that matter most
Within 2 working days
No sign-in, no sales call. I read every request myself and reply on WhatsApp.
Free tools
Check where you stand
Benchmarks
-2.6%
Insured private admissions, Q1 2026 compared with Q1 2025
Source: PHIN private market update
+7.7%
Self-pay private admissions, Q1 2026 compared with Q1 2025, the highest level recorded
Source: PHIN private market update
Before consultation and before treatment
Points at which consultants must give written fee information
Source: CMA Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014, Article 22 (as amended)
Paul Robinson
14 years in UK private healthcare
I solve this one for consultants
Want a hand? I'll look at your situation and tell you the three things I'd tackle first.
A few quick questions, about two minutes. I read every one myself and usually reply the same day.
No sales call unless you ask for one. Just a straight answer from me.
I reply personally, usually the same day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to publish my prices?
Partly. Under the CMA Order you must give PHIN your self-pay fees, which PHIN publishes, and give patients written fee information when an outpatient appointment is confirmed and before further tests or treatment. Publishing prices on your own website is not required, but self-pay patients increasingly expect it. If you do, the headline price should include every charge the patient cannot avoid. This is general information, not legal advice. Your hospital's compliance team or a healthcare regulatory lawyer can confirm what applies to you.
Will publishing prices start a race to the bottom?
Not usually. Self-pay patients weigh clarity, speed and reviews as well as price. Being clear often matters more than being cheapest. Set your fee yourself: never agree fees with other consultants.
The hospital sets the package price. What can I control?
Your own fee, how quickly you reply, and how clearly the price and inclusions are explained. You can also ask the hospital to list you on its package pages.
What if the patient needs something extra after assessment?
Say so in the first reply. Confirm the final price in writing after consultation and before treatment.
How fast is same day?
Before the end of the working day the enquiry arrived. Enquiries after 4pm can be answered by 10am the next day.
Last reviewed:
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