Private Paediatrician in Sutton Coldfield
Consultant paediatricians from Birmingham Children's Hospital and Heartlands Hospital, available privately at The Vesey. From newborn assessment to teenage health concerns — seen within 7 days, no GP referral required.
The Vesey's paediatric service is led by consultants who work daily in Birmingham Children's Hospital and Heartlands. We offer fast, expert assessment for children from newborn to 18, with appointment times structured to suit families — extended 45-minute new-patient slots, evening clinics, and weekend availability. The waiting time for a private paediatric appointment with us is typically 7 days, compared with NHS community paediatric waits often exceeding 6 months for behavioural concerns and 3–4 months for routine general paediatrics.
Conditions we treat
Our consultants assess and manage the full range of conditions in this specialty. The list below is grouped by area — most patients come with a single concern but often leave with multiple things addressed in one appointment.
- Recurrent infections & fever PUO
- Feeding difficulties & faltering growth
- Constipation & toileting problems
- Headaches & abdominal pain
- Tiredness & energy concerns
- Sleep problems & enuresis
- Food allergy assessment & skin prick testing
- Eczema with allergic component
- Asthma diagnosis & management
- Hay fever & allergic rhinitis
- Drug & antibiotic allergy
- Anaphylaxis review & adrenaline auto-injectors
- ADHD assessment (linked to clinical psychology)
- Anxiety & low mood in children
- Sleep disorders & bedtime resistance
- School avoidance & emotional dysregulation
- Developmental concerns
- Autistic spectrum referral pathway
- Short stature & growth assessment
- Delayed or early puberty
- PCOS & adolescent gynaecology referral
- Acne & adolescent dermatology
- Eating & body image concerns
- Adolescent mental health screening
- Newborn checks (NIPE)
- Failure to thrive & reflux
- Colic & feeding distress
- Tongue tie assessment & referral
- Plagiocephaly / head shape concerns
- Vitamin & iron status checks
- Paediatric neurology (Professor Rajat Gupta)
- Paediatric cardiology (Dr Tristan Ramcharan)
- Paediatric dermatology
- Paediatric dietetics (Aimee McEvilly)
- Paediatric ENT surgery
- Child psychology (Dr Catherine Field)
Procedures & transparent pricing
Every price below is the fee charged at The Vesey, inclusive where stated. You will always receive a clear itemised quote before any procedure begins.
| Procedure | What's included | From |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant paediatric consultation (new) | 45 mins · history, examination, plan | £260 |
| Follow-up consultation | 30 mins · same consultant | £180 |
| Newborn check (NIPE) | Full neonatal physical examination | £280 |
| Skin prick allergy testing | Single visit · up to 20 allergens | £320 |
| Lung function testing (spirometry) | Asthma & airway assessment | £180 |
| ECG with paediatric cardiology review | Same-day reporting | £220 |
| Growth assessment with bone age X-ray | Includes referral & report review | £380 |
| ADHD assessment (multi-disciplinary) | Paediatrician + psychology · 2 visits | From £950 |
| School / sport medical letter | Issued post-consultation | Inc. fee |
Prices accurate as of May 2026. Multi-element procedures and complex cases quoted individually. Histology, anaesthesia and laboratory costs included where listed.
What to expect
From booking to discharge, this is what happens. Most patients are surprised how quickly the whole journey moves compared with equivalent NHS pathways.
Call or WhatsApp our team. We confirm whether a paediatrician, GP or subspecialist is best for your child.
Choose a face-to-face or video appointment. Bring red book, immunisation history and any previous letters.
Unhurried history, examination, and discussion with you and your child. Clear written plan provided.
Investigations, prescriptions or onward referrals arranged. Letter to NHS GP with consent.
How we compare
Local patients regularly compare us with Spire, Nuffield Health and BMI. Here's an honest like-for-like.
- ✓ Seen within 7 days (vs NHS 3–6 months)
- ✓ 45-minute new-patient appointments
- ✓ Saturday and evening clinics available
- ✓ Same-week skin prick testing & ECG
- ✓ Children's Hospital consultants only
- ✓ No GP referral required
- ✕ Closed Sundays
- ✕ Limited evening clinics
- ✓ 1–3 week wait
- ✕ Referral often required
- ✓ On-site investigations
- ✓ Insurance accepted
- ✕ 3–6 month wait typical
- ✕ 10–15 minute appointments
- ✕ No choice of consultant
- ✕ Behaviour pathway 12+ months
- ✓ Free at point of use
- ✓ Integrated with school health
Comparator prices are typical published self-pay fees as of May 2026 and vary by consultant and time of year.
From our consultant
"Parents arrive at our clinic exhausted — often after months of waiting, multiple GP visits, and no clear answer about what's actually going on with their child. The single most rewarding part of this job is the 45 minutes where we actually unpick it, examine the child properly, and send them home with a plan and a name for what they're dealing with."
Dr Bala Subramaniam · Lead Consultant Paediatrician, The Vesey
When to see a private paediatrician — and when not to
Most childhood illness doesn't need a paediatrician — your NHS GP or out-of-hours service is the right first port of call for fever, minor injury, vomiting and acute infection. Private paediatrics is most useful when:
- Symptoms have been ongoing for more than 4–6 weeks without diagnosis
- You've been told "wait and see" multiple times but symptoms persist
- An NHS referral has been made but the wait is months and your child is suffering
- You want a single 45-minute conversation with a consultant rather than 10 separate GP visits
- You need allergy testing, growth assessment, or specialist behavioural input that isn't routinely available in primary care
We have a low threshold for telling parents "this can safely wait for your NHS appointment" — that's part of the consultation, and we won't bill for tests or follow-up that aren't clinically indicated.
Allergy testing — what to expect
Around 1 in 5 UK children has a parent-reported food allergy, but population-level skin-prick testing studies suggest the true rate of clinically significant food allergy in childhood is closer to 6–8%. The gap between perception and reality matters — restricting a child's diet on the basis of suspicion rather than evidence can affect growth and nutrition.
Our paediatric allergy clinic offers:
- Detailed history-taking — the single most important step in allergy diagnosis, often revealing patterns that bloodwork alone misses.
- Skin prick testing for up to 20 allergens in a single visit, with results in 15 minutes.
- Specific IgE blood testing where skin testing isn't suitable.
- Food challenge planning — for safe controlled reintroduction of suspected allergens.
- Adrenaline auto-injector training and emergency plans where indicated.
Where complex management is needed — for example multiple food allergies with eczema and asthma — we work alongside our specialist paediatric dietitian Aimee McEvilly.
ADHD assessment — our pathway
NHS waits for paediatric ADHD assessment in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands now exceed 18 months in some boroughs. Our private pathway gives a full multidisciplinary assessment in 4–6 weeks, with diagnosis (or exclusion of diagnosis) and a clear management plan.
The pathway includes:
- Initial paediatrician assessment (45 minutes) with developmental, medical and family history
- Standardised questionnaires (Conners 3) completed by parents and school
- Clinical psychology assessment with Dr Catherine Field
- Multidisciplinary diagnostic discussion
- Feedback consultation with parents and child
- Medication trial planning where indicated, with the consultant prescribing and monitoring
Total cost: from £950 for the full pathway including all reports. Ongoing medication monitoring is £180 per review. Where appropriate, we will write to your NHS GP requesting shared care so ongoing prescribing transfers to the NHS — though acceptance of shared care is at the discretion of your individual GP practice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private paediatrician cost?
An initial 45-minute consultation with our consultant paediatrician is £260. Follow-ups are £180 (30 minutes). Skin prick allergy testing is £320 inclusive. ADHD assessment pathway from £950. All costs are confirmed before booking.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book directly with our paediatrician. If you do have a GP referral letter or previous specialist letters, please bring or upload them — they help the consultant prepare. We can write to your NHS GP after the appointment with your consent.
What ages do you see?
Newborns through to 18-year-olds. We have specific clinics structured for infants and toddlers, school-age children, and adolescents — each with appropriate length and approach.
Can I see the same consultant for follow-up?
Yes. We deliberately maintain consultant continuity — the doctor who saw your child first will see them again. Where another specialty is needed (e.g. paediatric cardiology or psychology), we coordinate handover directly.
Are skin prick allergy tests safe?
Skin prick testing is the gold-standard initial allergy investigation in children. It's safe, takes 15 minutes for results, and is performed in a fully equipped clinical environment with paediatric resuscitation immediately available. We test up to 20 allergens per visit including common foods, environmental allergens and drugs.
How quickly will I get a diagnosis?
For many concerns — growth, allergy, asthma, behaviour, sleep, recurrent infection — diagnosis is made or excluded at the first appointment. More complex assessments (ADHD, autism, complex feeding) follow a structured pathway of 4–6 weeks. We're honest if the answer is 'this needs longer-term observation' rather than rushing to label.
Can you prescribe ADHD medication?
Yes, our paediatrician can initiate and titrate ADHD medication (methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine) following a confirmed diagnosis. After the trial period, we will request NHS shared care from your GP — this is at your GP's discretion. Ongoing private monitoring is £180 per review.
Do you accept paediatric medical insurance?
Yes. We are recognised by Bupa, Vitality, AXA Health, Aviva, WPA and Healix for paediatric services. Coverage of specific tests and pathways varies by policy — call us with your member number and we'll confirm before booking.
Will the consultant communicate with school / SENCO?
Yes. With parental consent, we routinely write to schools, SENCOs and educational psychologists. This is particularly important for ADHD, anxiety and chronic health conditions affecting school attendance. There's no fee for the first school letter following a consultation.
Is there anywhere for siblings to wait?
Yes. We have a child-friendly waiting area with books and quiet activities. Free parking outside the front door and step-free access from the car park.
Consultant-led paediatrician in the West Midlands
Seen within 7–14 days. Open 7 days a week 8am–8pm. Free parking, no GP referral, insurance accepted.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your appointment · Pay per visit · CQC reg. 1-11527097165