Self-pay step-by-step guide

The first step is booking your private consultation. There are three ways you can do this:

1. With a GP referral letter

Some consultants will ask for a referral letter from your GP before they can book you in for an appointment. This is normally so that they can double-check that their medical expertise meets your needs (as confirmed by your GP's recommendation).

To find out if you will need a GP referral letter, call our friendly team of advisors on 0808 301 8606 or make an email enquiry. Tell them which consultant you would like to have treatment with, or which hospital you prefer, and they will let you know whether you need a GP referral letter.

If you do need a referral letter, speak to your GP surgery. You will usually need to have an appointment to discuss the referral, though sometimes this can be done over the phone. Either way, you should tell your GP that you want to go private with Circle Health Group, and share your research into which hospital and consultant you would like to see. They will take this into consideration when they refer you to a consultant.

Once you have your referral letter, you can book your chosen specialist through our easy online booking system.

2. With a referral from virtual GP service Circle Online GP

If you don't want to wait for an appointment with your regular GP, you can use Circle Online GP to get a same-day virtual appointment with a GP.

Benefits include:

• Video appointments available seven days a week - even evenings and weekends
• See a GP the same day, usually in minutes, or book a time that suits you
• Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy the same day
• Get referrals for specialist care quickly

3. Self-referral (without a GP letter):

If you're paying for your own treatment, you can often book a private consultation without a GP referral letter, giving you even faster access to expert treatment.

Our friendly team of advisors can answer any questions about self-referral requirements before you book, simply give them a call on 0808 301 8606. Or, if you have already been advised that you can self-refer, simply book online using our our consultant finder.

Your initial consultation is a very important part of having private treatment with Circle Health Group. This is where your consultant will get to know you, your condition and symptoms, and where you will get to know your consultant.

The appointment will usually involve an analysis of your medical history as well as a physical examination. Your consultant might decide that you need scans or tests in order to confirm a diagnosis. For example an X-ray or some blood tests. If so, usually you'll be asked to come back at a later date to have these done. If you do need diagnostic tests, you might need a follow-up appointment with your consultant to discuss the results.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your consultant will talk you through their findings and what treatment options they recommend. Once you've both decided on the best course of action, they can tell you the cost of treatment, which will usually be in the form of a fixed-price package.

If you need surgery, your consultant will suggest when this could take place. Otherwise, you will leave your consultation with a series of treatment options to consider before receiving a letter at home, confirming your diagnosis and options.

Your consultant may confirm that you do not need further treatment after identifying your health issue. In this instance, you can return home with your query resolved.

After your consultation and if you're happy with your recommended treatment plan and price package, we will schedule an appropriate treatment date for you.

We try and be as flexible as possible when it comes to scheduling treatment, so do talk to our team about what works best for you.

Your consultant will send you a bill for the cost of your initial consultation. The price of this is payable directly to your consultant, who will let you know the best way to pay.

The rest of your treatment is paid for directly to Circle Health Group, and we require full payment in advance. We'll send a bill and give you all the information you need to pay, so it should be a straightforward process.

There are two ways to pay for your treatment with Circle:

1. Pay in full in one go

You can pay the full price of your treatment in one go, using one of the following three methods:

Pay by telephone

Payment for a treatment can be made at any time via our automated payment line on 0330 008 0457.

Pay by post

You can send a cheque made payable to BMI Healthcare Collections. Please ensure that your hospital account number and invoice number are clearly written on the back of your cheque.

Pay online

You can use our quick and easy to use online payment page to pay for pending treatment, or treatment you have already had.

Read our full guide to paying your bill.

2. Spread the cost using a loan from Chrysalis Finance

If you would rather pay monthly for your private treatment, you can take advantage of our flexible payment options, offered in partnership with Chrysalis Finance.

This allows you to spread the cost of treatment over a period of your choice, from 10 months to five years, with interest-free credit on the first year. Our flexible payment options page can tell you more.

The next step in your self-pay journey is to undergo treatment.

Whichever treatment option you need, our multidisciplinary team of specialist healthcare professionals offer expert care throughout your journey.

Find out what to expect when visiting Circle Health Group hospitals for treatment (for an overnight stay, or just for the day).

The final step in your private healthcare journey is getting better. At Circle Health Group, we are here to support you throughout your recovery. We want you to recover as quickly and as fully as possible.

When your consultant puts together a treatment plan, they will have taken into consideration what support you will need during your recovery. You might need a course of medicine from our onsite pharmacy, or sessions with one of our chartered physiotherapists. Often we will schedule follow-up consultations to make sure everything is going as expected.

The cost of up to six months of aftercare is included in all our fixed price packages. This allows you to focus on getting better without having to worry about unexpected costs.