Choosing Sulis for your NHS treatment
Many NHS patients are surprised to learn that they can be seen and treated at a private hospital.
Patients in England have the right to choose where to receive their hospital treatment, including private hospitals like Sulis Hospital Bath.
We’re part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, offering elective treatment services. Through this unique partnership, we can provide patients with the highest level of care and benefit the whole community.
Choosing Sulis Hospital for your NHS treatment?
If you’re looking for efficient, high-quality healthcare, Sulis Hospital could be the place for you. We’re experts in diagnostic treatment services for both NHS and private patients and believe that prompt, high-quality treatment is important for everyone. What sets us apart?
- Trusted and Safe: As part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust we adhere to the highest standards of NHS governance and best practices. This ensures that you receive safe, reliable and effective care.
- Zero-Incident Track Record: We are proud of our zero-incident record for hospital-acquired MRSA and C.diff infections.
- World-Class Expertise: Bath is home to some of the leading medical professionals and specialists. Patients benefit from the expertise of highly experienced specialist consultants.
Patient Choice: The NHS gives you the legal right to choose where to receive your treatment, including many private hospitals that provide NHS services. This gives you greater control over your care and the ability to select the hospital that best meets your needs.
Rapid Access to Treatment
We provide fast access to diagnosis and treatment, allowing you to see a specialist promptly and begin your care without unnecessary delay. And, the majority of consultant surgeons at Sulis Hospital have substantive contracts at the Royal United Hospital Bath, ensuring continuity of care.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Our hospital boasts modern, purpose-designed facilities, advanced diagnostic equipment, and a calming environment. Procedures are carried out in state-of-the-art operating theatres and we are proud of our zero-incident track record of hospital-acquired MRSA bloodstream and C.difficile infections.
Expert Staff
Sulis Hospital is home to a highly skilled team of consultants, nurses, and healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing exceptional, patient-centred care. Their expertise spans a wide range of specialties, ensuring NHS patients receive the highest standard of treatment in a supportive environment.
Surgical Hub
Here at Sulis Hospital, we've established a Surgical Hub for some operations and procedures. Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) teamed up with the Patients Association to understand what works best for patients referred to a surgical hub or transferred from a trust to a surgical hub for their operation.
In this video, it explains what is involved if you choose to have your surgery at a surgical hub and patients share their experiences.
For information on patient choice, your can you can visit NHS England. NHS treatment is free of charge at point of delivery.
FAQs
No, we welcome NHS patients no matter where they live in England.
No, the cost to the NHS is the same whether you are treated at an independent hospital or at an NHS Trust hospital.
Referring to Sulis Hospital takes pressure off nearby hospitals, meaning that waiting times get shorter.
Also, as the first fully operational independent hospital owned by an NHS Trust, Sulis Hospital reinvests any additional income from private care back into high-quality services for all patients. This benefits both NHS and private patients.
These are the clinics currently offered to NHS patients at Sulis Hospital through e-Referrals.
- Colorectal Clinic
- Cataract Clinic
- Elbow Clinic
- Eyes - Oculoplastics, Orbits and Lacrimal Clinic
- Foot and Ankle Clinic
- General Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
- Gastroscopy Clinic
- General Surgery - Lap Chole (gallbladder)
- General Surgery - Lumps and Bumps Clinic
- Gynaecology Clinic
- Hand Surgery Clinic
- Hernia Service Clinic
- Hip Clinic
- Knee Clinic
- Shoulder Clinic
- Spinal Clinic
- Urology Clinic
- Vascular Clinic
Certain medical exclusion criteria apply.
Sulis Hospital Bath aims to treat all patients reasonable timeframe.
Initial outpatient consultations are usually available within a few weeks for most NHS e-Referral clinics. This means that you will receive treatment a consultant diagnosis and have clarity on the next stages of your care.
Initial outpatient consultations are usually available within a 2 to 3 weeks for most NHS e-Referral clinics. For the latest NHS wait times click here.
Next steps
We’re delighted that you’ve chosen Sulis Hospital as your healthcare provider.
There are three NHS pathways to treatment at Sulis Hospital - NHS e-Referrals, the RUH Elective Care pathway for orthopaedic patients and you can also transfer your existing NHS care to Sulis Hospital.
NHS e-Referral allows you to choose and book your first outpatient appointment at hospitals and clinics across England.
First, ask your GP about referrals and let them know that you’re interested in going to Sulis Hospital. They’ll give you a letter listing your choice of hospitals and providing your unique booking reference number. If Sulis Hospital Bath is not given as a choice in the letter from your GP, please contact us at 01225 985 200 or email enquiries@sulishospital.com.
You can book through the NHS website or the NHS App. Using the app allows you to view or change your first outpatient appointment. To do this, you’ll need your booking reference number password or access code. It will have been given to you by your referrer. You can find out more about e-referrals on the NHS website.
If you choose to come to Sulis Hospital Bath, you’ll be offered a choice of clinic times including some weekend and evening appointments, allowing you to pick a time that suits you.
Your pre-operative and post-operative care will be managed through Sulis Hospital.
For information on patient choice, you can visit NHS England. NHS treatment is free of charge at point of delivery.
Patients who have chosen to have orthopaedic surgery at the Royal United Hospital Bath may be transferred to Sulis Hospital for their surgery.
For elective surgery, you can be treated at Sulis Hospital. By ‘elective surgery’ we mean surgery that you’ve chosen to have rather than emergency care.
We’re part of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. By offering elective treatment services we can help relieve pressure on a busy NHS hospital.
You’ll be pre-assessed at the Royal United Hospital Bath before they transfer your care to Sulis Hospital.
The length of stay for orthopaedic patients ranges from same-day to discharge on day two. Your post-operative care will be managed through the Royal United Hospital or in the community.
The RUH elective orthopaedic pathway is a different pathway to the e-Referrals pathway.
If you have to wait more than 18 weeks to start non-urgent treatment at another provider, you can ask to be transferred to Sulis Hospital instead.
We aim to treat patients within 18 weeks. The majority of patients are treated sooner. Initial consultations are usually available within a few weeks, with most treatments starting within 8 to 10 weeks.
Under the NHS Constitution (March 2013), you have the right to timely treatment or an alternative provider if wait times exceed the limit.
We can help you manage the transfer of your care to us. Click here to download the 'Changing your hospital' guide from The Department of Health.
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