Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a therapeutic substance derived from a patient’s own blood. A small blood sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets into a small volume of plasma. Platelets are natural sources of growth factors, and this resulting plasma is then injected into an injured or degenerated area. The therapy aims to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, commonly sought for chronic musculoskeletal issues like tendon injuries or osteoarthritis, and sometimes for cosmetic applications.
Current Status of PRP Funding on the NHS
Platelet-Rich Plasma injections are not routinely commissioned or funded as standard treatment across the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. This policy applies broadly across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for common applications like chronic tendinopathy and joint pain. NHS decision-makers often classify PRP as a “Low Clinical Priority” procedure due to the lack of robust, long-term evidence demonstrating consistent effectiveness and cost-efficiency compared to established treatments.
NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and regional commissioning groups typically do not include PRP in their standard service offerings. Operating under strict budgetary constraints, these bodies must prioritize treatments with the clearest evidence of clinical benefit and value for money. Consequently, a patient seeking PRP on the NHS will almost always be denied funding as part of the general treatment pathway.
The only exceptions are highly specific and localized. A patient might receive PRP if enrolled in a formal, ethically approved clinical trial or a localized pilot study conducted by an NHS Trust. In these research settings, treatment is provided free of charge to gather necessary data on efficacy and safety, not to provide routine care. Furthermore, cosmetic treatments, such as PRP for hair loss, fall entirely outside the scope of NHS funding, which is reserved for medical necessity.
Clinical Evidence and Regulatory Guidance
The inconsistent and limited quality of scientific evidence is the primary reason for the NHS’s hesitant stance on funding PRP. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guides NHS commissioning decisions by evaluating the evidence base for new procedures. NICE has issued interventional procedure guidance for specific applications, such as the use of PRP for knee osteoarthritis.
NICE guidance advises that the procedure raises no major safety concerns, but evidence on long-term efficacy is limited. Due to this gap, NICE recommends PRP only be used with “special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research.” Any NHS clinician using PRP must inform clinical governance leads and record outcomes carefully to contribute to the evidence base.
The regulatory landscape also contributes to the restriction, as PRP is legally classified as an unlicensed medicine when used for medical purposes. This classification requires additional oversight under The Human Medicines Regulations 2012. Since PRP lacks a standard marketing authorisation as a manufactured drug, its preparation and use must follow strict compounding rules. This adds complexity and cost that deters routine NHS adoption.
The NHS adopts procedures only if they prove superiority or equivalence to existing treatments in terms of clinical and cost-effectiveness. The current evidence for PRP, while promising, has not yet met the high threshold required for widespread, routine commissioning across the health service.
Accessing PRP Outside the NHS
Given the limited availability within the public health system, the primary route for PRP injections in the UK is through the private healthcare sector. The therapy is widely offered by specialized providers, including private sports medicine clinics, orthopaedic specialists, and aesthetic practitioners. These private providers are not bound by NHS commissioning policies, allowing them to offer the treatment directly to self-paying patients.
Patients opting for private treatment are responsible for the full cost, as private medical insurance policies typically do not cover PRP injections. The cost of a single PRP session is highly variable across the UK, depending on the body part treated, preparation method, and clinic reputation. Patients can generally expect to pay anywhere from £300 to over £1,000 per injection session.
The full course often requires multiple sessions, usually three to six, spaced several weeks apart, significantly increasing the total financial outlay. While private clinics are not governed by NHS commissioning rules, they must adhere to professional standards set by bodies like the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Patients should seek treatment from practitioners who are transparent about their protocols and the supporting evidence for PRP use.