FAQs
To make it as easy as possible to find the information you need, we've gathered a list of frequently asked questions about our hospital and services.
Frequently asked questions
Sulis Hospital provides private, insured and NHS healthcare.
Over 150 consultants covering more than 40 specialities see and treat patients at Sulis Hospital. The hospital has an Advanced Diagnostic Unit providing a wide range of diagnostic services across all modalities.
Our primary focus is on patients and their safety. We prioritise delivering high-quality care while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
Sulis Hospital is rated ‘Outstanding for Caring’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Overall, we hold a ‘Good’ CQC rating. These assessments reflect our commitment to excellence in patient care.
Click here to see a list of guide prices.
If you are funding your treatment privately, it is possible to arrange an appointment with your preferred consultant without the need for a referral from your GP. Some consultants prefer a GP referral as this will provide details about your current condition and medical history.
If you are covered by insurance, it's important to note that certain situations require a GP referral before seeking private specialist care. We recommend contacting your insurance provider first. Once you have received an approval or authorisation number from your insurer, please don't hesitate to contact us to schedule your appointment.
We do offer a Private GP Service if you are unsure about which specialist is right for you.
For self-funded treatment enquiries, please contact us to understand the cost of your treatment and discuss the process of transitioning from NHS to private care. It's worth noting that some NHS consultants also practice privately at Sulis Hospital, which might enable you to continue your care with the same consultant.
If you are covered by insurance, contact us to discuss your options. Depending on your circumstances, you may either require a new referral or be able to continue treatment with the same consultant. Contact your insurer for authorisation.
Yes, you do need a referral for radiology services, The referral can be made by your GP, a private GP or your consultant. Advanced practitioner physiotherapists can also refer for diagnostic tests. Find out more about our diagnostic services.
If you have private health insurance you will need your GP referral to claim on your insurance. The referral can be made by a Sulis private GP.
If you are paying yourself, you can call us to book an appointment and we will discuss whether you need a GP referral as not all procedures require a referral.
However, we would recommend that you see your GP first to ensure that you are booked in with the most appropriate specialist.
This will depend on the individual consultant and the speciality but usually an initial consultation will take between 10 and 45 minutes.
Your consultant will want to talk to you about your condition and any problems you’ve been experiencing. Details about the reason for your referral will detailed in your GP referral letter. During your appointment, your consultant will ask you specific questions to help with your diagnosis and may carry out a physical examination.
Call our patient advisory team on 01761 422288 to gather information on the consultant specialists, diagnostic facilities and available appointments at Sulis Hospital.
Contact your insurance company to obtain an authorisation number if you have private medical insurance. You may need a referral letter from your health practitioner so check with your insurer before booking your appointment.
We provide detailed information on a full range of treatments, conditions, symptoms and scans and tests. Browse our full list of services.
Sulis Hospital is located 6 miles south of Bath city centre. Travelling from Bath, head south west on the A367 towards Shepton Mallet and Radstock. On the outskirts of Bath you will pass the Odd Down Park and Ride located on a roundabout. Take the third exit and remain on the A367 heading towards Radstock for approximately 4 miles.
You will then go up a hill, keep in the left hand lane and at the roundabout you will automatically be in the filter lane keeping on the A367, do not go into the village of Peasedown St John. After approximately one mile you will pass the Audi and Mercedes-Benz dealerships on your left. At the roundabout take the first exit into Wellow Lane. Then take the first left into Foxcote Avenue and the Bath Business Park. Sulis Hospital is located immediately on your right hand side and the entrance is opposite the entrance to Mercedes-Benz.
Our address is:
Sulis Hospital Bath
Foxcote Avenue
Peasedown St John
Bath
BA2 8SQ
Find us on Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/JDQbr2sKMi...
Yes, a visitor's car park is located directly in front of the hospital. This is free of charge to patients and visitors.
Read our patient policy at Sulis Hospital Bath here.
Senior information risk owner (SIROs)
Patients and partners should look to the SIRO as the focal point for the control of information risks and incidents. The SIRO’s main concern is the management of all of the information assets within Sulis Hospital. Their role also looks to foster a culture of protecting and using data. The SIRO is accountable to the Board of the organisation.
The SIRO for Sulis Hospital is Libby Walters.
Caldicott guardian
The Caldicott guardian advises the SIRO in matters of patient confidentiality and information handling. If there is uncertainty in the use of a patient’s information, the guardian will advise on approaches to best practice in these situations.
They play the role of the conscience of the organisation. The SIRO will consult with the guardian where appropriate when conducting information risk reviews which comprise or contain patient information.
The Caldicott guardian for Sulis Hospital is Bernie Marden.
Travelling from the direction of Shepton Mallet, keep on the A367 going through the centre of Radstock following signs to Bath. After the double mini roundabout in the town centre follow the A367 for approximately 2.5 miles. You will come to the outskirts of Peasedown St John, do not take any turning into the village but remain on the A367 for another half mile.
At the first roundabout take the third exit into Wellow Lane. Then take the first left into Foxcote Avenue and the Bath Business Park. Sulis Hospital is located immediately on your right hand side and the entrance is opposite the entrance to Mercedes-Benz.
There are regular buses to Peasedown St John from Bath. This is a short walk from the hospital.
Bath 6 miles; Bristol 17 miles; Frome 9 miles; Shepton Mallet 12 miles; Warminster 15 miles; Wells 15 miles; Yeovil 32 miles.
We know how important it is that your friends can visit you in hospital. That's why we don't have restricted visiting hours however our suggested visiting hours are after 8 am and before 8 pm. The hospital is open 24 hours a day.
Yes, our hospital is fitted with an induction loop.
There are a number of ways to pay for treatment at Sulis Hospital, the main ones are:
- Through private or company supported medical insurance
- Funding your own treatment through one of Sulis Hospital’s self-pay options. Payment by credit or debit card can be made by telephone prior to your admission and payment by personal cheque is accepted but must be received 10 days before your attendance to enable the cheque to clear.
- The amount that needs to be paid will depend on the treatment you require.
Insured Patients
If you have health insurance we always advise that you check with your insurance company that the proposed treatment is covered by your policy prior to attending your appointment.
We also recommend that you liaise closely with your insurance company throughout the course of treatment as each provider has slightly different requirements.
When you come to the hospital please bring with you your Insurance Registration documents and completed claim form, or alternative proof of pre-authorisation. If required by your insurance policy, please make sure that your claim form has been signed by your GP.
If you do not have all of your insurance details with you, it may be necessary for you to settle your account in full upon admission to Sulis Hospital. In order to meet the admission requirements of many insurance companies, we may need you to provide the date when your symptoms first developed and the date that you subsequently visited your GP.
We have agreements with many insurance companies and the hospital will invoice them directly. However if you receive any invoices from your Consultant after discharge, you will need to forward these to your insurance company for payment.
Many insurance companies have an excess payment policy and it is advisable to check if there is any excess that you will be liable to pay for any treatment.
Please note that take home medicines (apart from your own medication which is returned to you) and physiotherapy aids are not covered by medical insurance and you will therefore be presented with a bill where applicable.
Self Pay Patients
If you are not covered by medical insurance and are self-funding the cost of your treatment, you will be required to pay the agreed cost in full prior to your admission. If you are being admitted under any of the hospital's Self Pay options you will receive a detailed quote - including our Terms and Conditions - in advance of your treatment. This quote will identify what you need to pay and exactly what is included or excluded from this price.
NHS Patients
If you are admitted to the hospital under an NHS contract there will be no charges made to you other than those charges incurred for extras which are detailed below.
All Patients
Costs for any extras such as telephone calls, visitors' meals etc, will be invoiced to you and payment collected when you leave hospital. In order to assist in this process you may be asked to sign a Credit Card Mandate on admission. The Sulis Hospital Registration Form, available to all patients, contains details of the hospital's general Terms and Conditions.
Yes. Our 30 private bedrooms are furnished to a high standard with an en-suite, walk-in shower room and pull-out guest bed so a partner or parent can stay overnight. Your partner or parent will need to pay for their meals in addition to an overnight cost. This needs to be pre-arranged.
There are no restrictive visiting hours, so your guests are very welcome to visit you at any time of day. However, we suggest visitors come after 8 am and before 8 pm at the latest.
Sulis Hospital is pleased to confirm that we are compliant with the Government's requirement to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except when it is in the patients overall best interest, or reflects their personal choice.
We have the necessary facilities, resources and culture to ensure that patients who are admitted to our hospital will only share the room where they sleep with members of the same sex, and same sex toilets and bathrooms will be close to their bed area. Sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen when clinically necessary (for example where patients need specialist equipment such as in ECU - enhanced care unit) or when patients actively choose to share.
If our care should fall short of the required standard, we will report it. We will also set up an audit mechanism to make sure that we do not misclassify any of our reports. We will publish the results of that audit in the Board Quality and Performance report.
We recognise that you will want to be as prepared as possible for your procedure.
Some patients may be required to fast before they receive treatment. That is, not to eat or drink anything over a given length of time. Any such instructions should be included on your appointment letter. If you are unsure, you can call us and confirm if this applies to you.
After your appointment is scheduled at the hospital, you will receive a health questionnaire. Please complete the questionnaire as soon as possible after receipt and return it to us in the accompanying self-addressed stamped envelope or online if available.
When we receive your completed health questionnaire, our nursing staff will review it to ensure that no additional tests are required before your scheduled treatment. We may in some cases decide that we need to complete a further assessment either by telephone or in person prior to your scheduled appointment. We will contact you to arrange the telephone assessment or pre-operative assessment appointment ahead of your scheduled appointment.
We believe that a caring, calm environment promotes a speedy recovery. Each in-patient room offers en-suite facilities and plenty of storage for personal items. We strongly recommend that you bring some entertainment with you whether its, magazines, personal tablet device or puzzle books. Each of our rooms are equipped with a television and internet is available free of charge. Working together with your Consultant and care team we will do everything to ensure that your stay is as comfortable and restful as possible.
We make every effort to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible during your stay. We will provide you with all of the conveniences you would expect, including fresh linen, bath and hand towels and a robe. However should you be staying with us for more than a day, it is advisable to bring the following items with you:
Toiletries such as:
- Hairbrush, comb and shampoo
- Toiletries
- Nightwear
- Underwear
- Slippers (preferably non slip)
- Some casual, loose fitting clothing to wear during the day
If you are taking any medication please bring them in with you in their original, labelled containers as dispensed by your chemist / pharmacy.
This includes:
- Tablets and capsules
- Liquids
- Patches
- Inhalers
- Creams
It is also important to let us know about any herbal preparations you may be taking.
We will also need to see any written instructions supplied by your doctor such as a repeat prescription form.
You may be asked to stop taking certain medications when coming in for surgery by the pre-assessment nurse following instruction from your consultant and/or anaesthetist. If you are advised to stop taking any medication we would ask that you still bring this medication with you to ensure that the clinical team are able to compile an accurate record of your current medication.
All patients are entitled to be accompanied by a chaperone. Please call us in advance of your appointment or ask at reception upon your arrival.
If you are being admitted to the hospital for Day Care, you should dress casually and avoid restrictive clothing. You will not need nightwear but may want to bring some slippers.
Property may be handed into our hospitality staff for safe keeping. There is no need to bring food with you as snacks and drinks are provided for patients in our Day Care Unit during or after treatment
If you are a self-pay patient, then the fees for your treatment or surgery will be discussed with you individually and a detailed written quote prepared for you. If you would like an estimate of the likely costs of surgery, please call us on 01761 422 288 and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
For outpatient treatments a price list is available from the nursing station to ensure that you are aware of the costs of treatments/procedures.
Whether you are funded by your private health insurance, the NHS or are self-funding at Sulis Hospital we aim to ensure that the financial aspects of your visit to the hospital are dealt with efficiently, transparently and confidentially. The registration document which you sign upon arrival forms your contract with the hospital for services and facilities.
What you tell us matters. At Sulis Hospital, our aim is to give you the best possible experience whilst you undergo your diagnosis and/or surgery and treatment. Read more about making a suggestion or complaint here.
Smoking is prohibited within the hospital premises.
Coming into hospital is always an opportunity to consider giving up smoking, it may be useful to discuss nicotine replacement therapy with your GP and/or pharmacist prior to your admission.
Friends and relatives can contact the nursing ward directly on 01761 422201 to speak to our inpatient nurses about loved ones' recoveries.
Yes if you are going to be awake during your procedure e.g. local anaesthetic then you are able to listen to your own music in theatre. You are may take in phones or other small devices that can be used with earphones.
Yes, wifi internet is available throughout the hospital for patients and visitors.
Each in-patient room offers state-of-the-art technology which provides access to music, television, films and the internet.
The Accessible Information Standard applies to service providers across the NHS and adult social care. The Standard aims to ensure that disabled people have access to information that they can understand and communication support that they might need. Sulis Hospital are committed to being fully compliant with the Standard
We publish our quality account on an annual basis. Read our 2022/3 Quality Account here.
Sulis Hospital’s quality account shows our commitment to quality for our patients and partners.
Sulis Hospital operates under the ownership of an NHS Trust, which allows us to seamlessly integrate best practices and governance from the Royal United Hospital, Bath (RUH). This integration ensures the highest standards of clinical safety and quality care for our patients. We monitor clinical quality and safety and report on this regularly by openly sharing information, ensuring we can respond to incidents quickly and effectively.
Sulis is the first independent hospital to achieve accreditation as an elective surgical hub through NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) scheme. This accreditation, alongside our recognition as a National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider, underscores our commitment to providing high standards of clinical care.
In the extremely rare event that a patient needs intensive care, we work closely with the ambulance service and the Royal United Hospital Bath (RUH) to ensure safe and timely transfers for post-operative patients.
We collaborate with Retrieve, the Adult Critical Care Transfer Service (ACCTS) for South West England. When the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) faces high-pressure activity, they step in to support our patient transfers to the Royal United Hospital Bath.
Our Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) receive on-site support from our senior nursing team and have access to on-call consultant anaesthetists, and consultant surgeons. Sulis also maintains an on-call team to assist patients needing to return to theatre outside of regular hours.
Sulis Hospital is actively pursuing Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA). We hold regular meetings with our anaesthetists as individuals and participate in speciality meetings to ensure consistency in anaesthetic services.