Private pay by specialty?

**UKUSUK** · 15-06-2009, 07:01 PM

Hello,

I'm aware that consultants of all specialties make a similar pay with the NHS. From what I understand, however, the pay for extra private work that consultants do differs considerably based on specialty. What specialties pull in the most for this private work, and how much?

Thanks

**Winchester** · 24-06-2009, 02:19 AM

Hey, as far as I know it's the surgical specialties and anaesthetics that clear up when it comes to private work. Orthopaedics would be lucrative I think, but I'm not totally sure. Some specialties have no prospect of private work, like A&E. I've no idea how much you'd be earning though, and I've heard its pretty hard to come by any work at the moment.

**lizardking125** · 22-07-2009, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by UKUSUK

Hello,

I'm aware that consultants of all specialties make a similar pay with the NHS. From what I understand, however, the pay for extra private work that consultants do differs considerably based on specialty. What specialties pull in the most for this private work, and how much?

Thanks

At the private hospital I work at there is a specialist spinal surgeon who has clinics from 8:30am-8pm with only a 15 minute lunch break. He will see on average 60-70 patients with each consultation costing around £130 (I think).

And that's just in clinic!

**James** · 22-07-2009, 05:16 PM

I wouldn't hold out much hope for a large private practice. The government initiatives to reduce waiting times on the NHS have had a massive impact on private practice. Where in the past an 80 year old lady would be told she had an 18 month wait for her new hip and would spend her life savings to do it privately, these days her wait would only be a few months and she will get it done on the NHS.

There are of course people who get medical insurance with their job or who just want to see someone privately, but the numbers here are small and shrinking.

In most areas a small number of long-standing consultants have cornered the market for private work and it is very hard for new consultants to 'break in'. Also some new consultant NHS contracts have restrictions on private practice.