According to poll results commissioned by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), at least one in six people have turned to private healthcare due to difficulties accessing the National Health Service (NHS) since 2020. The primary reason cited for seeking private healthcare was to avoid the NHS waiting list. The findings of the YouGov poll revealed that nearly half of those who required healthcare services since 2020 experienced challenges in accessing them, while 40 percent did not encounter any difficulties. A quarter of respondents either did not require healthcare services or could not recall if they faced access problems.
For individuals with health conditions that impact their daily lives, 51 percent encountered difficulties accessing NHS care, compared to 40 percent who did not. Approximately 17 percent of respondents turned to private healthcare, and when dental care was included, the figure rose to over a third, or 67 percent. Notably, individuals from more affluent backgrounds were more likely to access private healthcare, with 23 percent doing so, compared to only 10 percent from less affluent backgrounds.
A separate report published by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) in May also highlighted a record usage of private healthcare services. The PHIN’s private market update revealed that there were 820,000 private admissions in 2022, an increase of around 8 percent from the previous year and the highest number on record. This growing trend towards private healthcare comes amid concerns about the NHS’s performance in comparison to other countries. As per a report by The King’s Fund, the NHS lags behind many comparable countries in terms of health outcomes, despite its success in shielding patients from financial burdens. The report identified areas such as life expectancy and avoidable deaths where the NHS performs worse than its counterparts.
The elevated waiting times for treatment in England during the COVID-19 pandemic have played a significant role in driving individuals towards private healthcare. According to NHS figures, the average waiting time for treatment reached almost 20 weeks at the peak of the pandemic. Although waiting times have reduced since late 2020, they still remain high as the NHS struggles to catch up. In April 2023, the median waiting time was 13.8 weeks, nearly double the figure of 7.2 weeks recorded in April 2019. Waiting times in A&E departments also continue to be a cause for concern. In May, there were around 122,423 people in England waiting for more than four hours before being admitted, reflecting an 83 percent increase compared to April 2019.
The situation has been further aggravated by recent industrial action related to pay and conditions for healthcare workers. While the dispute between nurses and the government has subsided, junior doctors have initiated a fresh five-day strike demanding pay restoration to keep up with inflation. The British Medical Association (BMA) members are participating in this strike from July 13 to July 18. Subsequently, hospital consultants in England are planning a two-day strike starting from July 20, and the Society of Radiographers has announced a 48-hour action beginning on July 25. These strikes have led to the rescheduling of more than 651,000 routine procedures and appointments over the past eight months, potentially eroding trust between hospital leaders and staff.
As the strikes and access issues persist, the disruption and potential harm caused by delayed treatment pose significant risks that the NHS must manage. The concern raised by Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, is that trusts will have little respite between strikes, and the impact on patients continues to grow. The erosion of trust between hospital leaders and staff further compounds the challenges faced by the NHS.
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