Private Ketamine Treatment in London: Safety, Process & Expectations
A practical guide to what private ketamine treatment involves, how to assess a clinic's governance standards, and what to expect from the process — from first enquiry to post-course review.
Educational Content — Not Personal Medical Advice
This article provides general information for educational purposes. It does not constitute medical advice. Eligibility for ketamine therapy is assessed on an individual basis by a consultant psychiatrist. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about medical treatment.
Written by Dr Wayne Kampers, Consultant Psychiatrist, Neuro Reset Clinic
Last reviewed: March 2026
The Landscape of Private Ketamine Treatment in London
Interest in private ketamine treatment in London has grown substantially in recent years, driven by an increasing body of clinical evidence and the significant unmet need among patients with treatment-resistant conditions. This growth brings both opportunity and risk: opportunity, because effective treatment is now more accessible for those who have suffered for years without adequate relief; risk, because the quality of clinical governance varies enormously between providers.
This article aims to help prospective patients understand what private ketamine treatment involves, what questions to ask, and what standards to expect from a reputable ketamine clinic in London.
What Private Ketamine Treatment Involves
Private ketamine treatment — as offered at Neuro Reset Clinic — involves the following stages:
- Eligibility screening — an initial review of your psychiatric history, previous treatments, and presenting condition to assess whether a formal consultation is appropriate.
- Consultant psychiatric assessment — a comprehensive evaluation by a GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist. This includes full psychiatric and medical history, review of past treatment records, and assessment of contraindications.
- Treatment planning and informed consent — if eligible, the consultant outlines the proposed treatment plan, discusses risks and benefits in full, and obtains written informed consent.
- Infusion course — typically six IV ketamine infusions over two to three weeks, each lasting approximately 40–60 minutes. Every session is conducted in a dedicated clinical suite with continuous physiological monitoring.
- Post-course review — a formal consultant-led review following the treatment course, assessing clinical response with validated outcome measures and planning ongoing care.
Safety Standards: What a Reputable Clinic Should Provide
Not all private ketamine providers in the UK operate to the same standards. When considering a ketamine clinic, the following governance elements should be present:
Consultant-led assessment
Eligibility should be determined by a consultant psychiatrist — not an online questionnaire alone, or a non-specialist clinician.
Comprehensive contraindication screening
Medical and psychiatric contraindications — including hypertension, psychosis history, and substance misuse — must be rigorously screened before treatment is approved.
Written informed consent
Patients should receive a full explanation of risks, benefits, and alternatives — and formally consent — before any treatment begins.
Continuous physiological monitoring during infusions
Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation must be monitored throughout every infusion by trained staff — not left to automated machines without clinical oversight.
Post-course clinical review
A formal outcome review using validated measures — not just a brief phone call — should follow the treatment course, with clear planning for ongoing care.
Integrated psychological support
Ketamine is most effective when embedded within a broader care plan. Clinics that offer infusions without any psychological framework are not utilising the full therapeutic potential of the treatment.
Expectations: What Patients Report
Clinical outcomes from ketamine therapy vary between individuals. It is important to approach treatment with realistic expectations:
- Many patients with treatment-resistant depression report meaningful improvement in mood within the first one to three sessions of a standard course.
- Responses range from partial improvement to complete remission. Not all patients respond — which is why post-course clinical review is essential.
- The durability of ketamine's antidepressant effect varies. Some patients maintain improvement following one course; others benefit from maintenance infusions at longer intervals.
- Psychological engagement during and after the course appears to enhance and prolong the benefit.
- Ketamine is not a cure, and should be understood as one component of a broader, consultant-led treatment plan.
No guarantee of treatment outcome is made. Individual responses vary. All clinical decisions are made by qualified consultant psychiatrists.
Explore Treatment at Our London Ketamine Clinic
Our dedicated treatment page provides complete information on the protocol, eligibility criteria, governance standards, and costs at our Hampstead and Knightsbridge clinics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist leadership, documented pre-treatment screening, continuous physiological monitoring, written informed consent procedures, and post-course clinical review. Be cautious of providers who offer ketamine without comprehensive pre-treatment assessment or proper clinical oversight.
IV ketamine infusion therapy for depression and PTSD is not currently available on the NHS in England. It remains a private treatment. Esketamine (Spravato) nasal spray has received NICE approval for treatment-resistant depression, but with specific prescribing restrictions that limit its current availability.
In a properly governed clinic, short-term risks include transient dissociation, blood pressure elevation, and nausea — all of which are monitored and managed. Bladder and dependence concerns are associated with high-dose recreational misuse, not with the controlled clinical protocols used in reputable ketamine clinics. Your consultant will discuss all risks in full as part of the informed consent process.
Suitability is always determined by a consultant psychiatrist following a comprehensive assessment. The recommended first step is to complete our eligibility questionnaire, which our clinical team will review and use to advise whether proceeding to a formal consultation is appropriate. Read our eligibility guide.
Related reading: Ketamine clinic London — full treatment guide | Ketamine clinic London — clinic overview | Who is eligible for ketamine treatment? | How ketamine infusion therapy works
Written and reviewed by Dr Wayne Kampers, Consultant Psychiatrist, Neuro Reset Clinic — March 2026.
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