I don't blame you wanting to discuss this now, it's a shock. There are quite a few things to think about that might not be so cut and dried. For example.
They might not operate because of your fathers health, weight or age. The operation is physically taxing as they tilt the body. They didn't rule out Radiotherapy or perhaps didn't say? Radiotherapy can be regarded as a cure as much as an operation and it's standard to offer hormones beforehand. That could be better news, if so.
A private hospital presumably doesn't follow NICE guidelines so using non-standard treatment by immediately prescribing hormones might be not be unusual. We don't know if the consultant you saw was a surgeon, a urologist or an oncologist or perhaps a GP. Different specialities can favour different pathways, although they shouldn't make definitive statements like no operation without evidence. At least I wouldn't have thought so.
There are quite a few questions that could be asked and you might have some of the answers e.g. about his health for the operation, before any conclusions are drawn and perhaps someone else on here can suggest some other thoughts.
All the best, Peter