Key Takeaways:
- Booking privately doesn’t require a GP referral first, though it’s still worth bringing one or a biopsy result if you already have one.
- How soon you are seen depends on current availability at the hospital you choose.
- An e-consultation can give you an initial opinion before you’ve even travelled in, useful if you’re trying to judge urgency from a distance.
- How quickly surgery itself happens after your consultation depends on diagnosis, theatre availability, and which of the two hospitals suits your procedure.
Booking Mohs surgery privately removes the referral step in the NHS route. How soon you are seen depends on current availability, and how fast you are treated after that depends on your diagnosis.
Miss Rakhee Nayar, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Mohs surgeon, sees both self-referred private patients and those who’ve already been referred by a GP or dermatologist.
How private booking differs from the NHS pathway
How to schedule a Mohs consultation in the UK covers the NHS route in detail: a GP examines the lesion, decides whether to refer routinely or urgently, and only after a specialist assessment is surgery actually booked. That structure exists for good clinical reasons, but it does add time.
Booking privately skips that referral gate. You can contact the clinic directly and be seen without first going through a GP, though if you already have a referral letter or biopsy result, it’s still worth bringing it.
Do you need a referral to book privately?
No. Self-referral is the normal route for private patients. A referral letter or previous biopsy result gives useful context, but you can book without one.
How fast can you actually be seen
It depends on current availability at each hospital, so ask when you send an enquiry. An e-consultation offers a remote initial assessment of a lesion before you travel in, which is a useful first step for patients further afield or those simply trying to judge how urgent their situation is.
Miss Nayar sees private patients at two hospitals, Circle Cheshire in Northwich and Fairfield in St Helens. Circle Cheshire, Fairfield or St Helens Hospital explains how to choose between them.
What happens between booking and your first appointment
Once you’ve booked, you’ll typically be asked to confirm a few practical details, which site you’ll attend, whether you’re paying privately or via insurance, and any referral letter or biopsy result you can forward in advance. None of this usually delays the appointment itself.
What can affect how quickly you’re seen
A few things can affect the timeline: how urgent the lesion appears, which hospital has the next available appointment, and ordinary pressures like holiday periods. If timing matters to you, ask when you book.
From consultation to surgery, how fast can treatment happen
This is where the honest answer gets more specific to you. If the diagnosis is already confirmed from a previous biopsy, the next step is usually to agree a surgery date. If a new biopsy is needed first, the results come back before a surgery date is set.
Insurance & Self-Pay covers how payment is arranged either way, since that’s usually settled well before a surgery date is confirmed rather than on the day.
| Step | Typical private timeframe |
|---|---|
| Booking a consultation | Depends on current availability |
| e-Consultation (optional) | Remote opinion before travelling in |
| Consultation to biopsy result (if needed) | Time for laboratory processing |
| Confirmed diagnosis to surgery date | Depends on theatre availability at your chosen site |
FAQ
Can I book without seeing my GP first?
Yes. Private self-referral doesn’t require a GP referral, though bringing one, or a previous biopsy result, is still useful if you have one.
How soon can Mohs surgery happen after diagnosis?
It depends on theatre availability and which hospital suits your procedure, so ask when you enquire.
Does paying privately guarantee faster surgery than the NHS?
No. Timings depend on availability at the hospital you choose, so ask when you enquire. The procedure is the same, and NHS treatment is free where patients meet the clinical criteria.
Can I get an opinion before travelling in for an appointment?
Yes, an e-consultation allows an initial remote assessment of a lesion before you make the journey, which is often a useful first step for patients further afield.
Recommended
- About Dr Nayar
- The NHS referral route is covered under how to schedule a Mohs consultation in the UK
- Insurance & Self-Pay: Private Mohs Surgery UK
- Circle Cheshire, Fairfield or St Helens Hospital: Where to Be Seen Privately
Filed under Choosing Your Care
