Private Gallbladder Removal Cost in South Wales

What is included in the estimated surgery cost?

The approximately £6,935 surgery cost includes the principal hospital and professional fees normally required for a planned day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy:

• Hospital admission and theatre costs
• Standard hospital consumables and medication
• Pre-operative assessment
• Routine pre-operative blood tests
• Consultant anaesthetist’s fee
• Mr Wood’s surgical fee
• One postoperative follow-up appointment

Before proceeding, you will be given information about the expected charges applying to your treatment.

What is not included?

• The initial consultation with Mr Wood, currently £185
• Ultrasound, MRI, CT or other imaging
• Additional diagnostic tests that may be required
• Treatment unrelated to the planned gallbladder operation
• Additional hospital care outside the expected day-case pathway

Many patients have already had the necessary ultrasound or other scans and blood tests before seeing Mr Wood. Further imaging is therefore not routinely required in every case.

If additional investigations are recommended, their purpose and likely cost will be explained before they are arranged.

Could the final cost be different?

Yes. £6,935 is an approximate starting price rather than a guaranteed fixed price.

The final amount may vary because of:

• Changes in St Joseph’s Hospital charges
• Individual clinical or anaesthetic requirements
• Additional investigations or treatment
• A planned overnight admission
• An unexpectedly longer hospital stay
• Care required outside the usual planned pathway

Most laparoscopic cholecystectomies are intended as day-case procedures. If an overnight stay is planned or additional hospital care is required, extra hospital charges may apply.

The expected cost will be discussed after clinical assessment and confirmed as far as possible before surgery.

Is this a competitive price for private gallbladder surgery?

A review of publicly advertised self-pay prices indicates that private laparoscopic gallbladder removal in the UK commonly costs approximately £6,000 to £10,000, depending on the hospital, surgeon, anaesthetist, investigations, admission arrangements and follow-up care. Some private treatment packages can cost up to around £10,000 or more, particularly where an overnight stay, additional investigations or more complex treatment is required.

At approximately £6,935, Mr Wood’s current estimated cost at St Joseph’s Hospital is within this advertised UK private price range. It includes the hospital, surgeon, anaesthetist, routine pre-operative blood tests and one postoperative follow-up appointment.

Rather than relying only on a headline figure, patients should check exactly what is included and whether consultation, investigation, professional or follow-up fees are charged separately.

 

Initial consultation

A private consultation with Mr Wood costs £185.

During the consultation, he will:

• Review your symptoms and medical history
• Examine your previous blood-test and imaging results
• Assess whether gallbladder removal is appropriate
• Discuss alternatives where relevant
• Explain the operation, expected benefits, limitations and risks
• Consider any factors that could affect surgery or anaesthesia
• Explain the next steps and anticipated charges

A GP referral is helpful but is not always essential for a self-pay consultation. Please bring or arrange access to any previous ultrasound, MRI or blood-test results.

Self-pay gallbladder surgery

You do not need private medical insurance to arrange an appointment.

Self-pay treatment may be suitable if you:

• Want more rapid access to a specialist surgical opinion
• Are waiting for NHS assessment or treatment
• Do not have private medical insurance
• Have an insurance exclusion or insufficient cover
• Want to choose your surgeon and hospital
• Prefer transparent information about likely costs before proceeding

Payment arrangements and the applicable hospital charges will be confirmed before surgery.

Using private medical insurance

Mr Simon Wood is registered with the principal private medical insurers listed on this website.

Laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder is normally identified by the CCSD procedure code J1830. Your insurer may ask for this code when considering or issuing authorisation.

When contacting your insurer, you may need to provide:

• Consultant: Mr Simon Wood
• Hospital: St Joseph’s Hospital, Newport
• Procedure: laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• CCSD procedure code: J1830

You should ask your insurer to confirm:

• Whether your policy covers the consultation and surgery
• Whether prior authorisation is required
• Whether you have an excess
• Whether your policy has exclusions or fee limits
• Whether you could be responsible for any shortfall
• Whether investigations or anaesthetic fees require separate authorisation

Insurance policies vary. Providing a CCSD code does not guarantee cover, and authorisation does not necessarily mean that every associated charge will be paid in full.

Why choose Mr Simon Wood for gallbladder surgery?

Mr Simon Wood is a Consultant General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon with particular expertise in gallstones and gallbladder disease.

• Performed more than 1,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies
• Extensive experience treating straightforward and complex gallstone disease
• Particular experience with symptomatic gallstones developing during or after GLP-1 medicines such as Mounjaro
• Specialist training in General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Completed a Senior Fellowship in Upper GI Surgery in Adelaide
• Gained a Master’s degree in Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Served as National Clinical Lead for General Surgery in Wales
• Worked as a Course Director teaching laparoscopic surgical skills at the Royal College of Surgeons of England

Private consultations and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery are provided at St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport for patients from Cardiff, South Wales, Bristol and elsewhere in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay privately if I am already on an NHS waiting list?

Yes. You can request a private consultation even if you have previously been assessed or placed on an NHS waiting list. Bring any available clinic letters, blood results and imaging reports to your consultation.

What is the insurance code for laparoscopic gallbladder removal?

The usual CCSD procedure code for laparoscopic cholecystectomy is J1830. The code identifies the proposed operation but does not itself guarantee that your insurance policy will cover it.

Does private medical insurance usually cover gallbladder surgery?

Gallbladder surgery is commonly covered when medically indicated, but this depends on the terms of your policy. Your insurer may require prior authorisation and may apply an excess, exclusions or fee limits.

All prices are indicative and may change. The estimated surgery cost is not a binding quotation or guarantee. Final charges depend partly on hospital pricing and the investigations, treatment, admission and aftercare required. Expected charges will be explained as far as possible before treatment.