New figures show the private healthcare sector is now delivering nearly one in five of all NHS operations.
Independent providers were responsible for removing nearly three-quarters of a million people from the NHS waiting list in the first five months of 2024 alone.
Latest quarterly NHS data analysis from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) shows independent sector providers are on average delivering over 100,000 patient care episodes each week so far this year.
This is an average rise of around one third (30,000 patients a week) since the NHS’s Independent Sector Weekly Activity Return (WAR) dataset began publication in 2021.
In the first half of 2024, independent providers had increased NHS activity by more than 30% compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
IHPN chief executive David Hare said: ‘The new government has been clear that the independent sector is an important part of helping to get NHS waiting times down for patients. And there is a real commitment from the sector to ensuring that the capacity and contribution that the sector makes is scaled up over the months and years ahead, building on the good progress highlighted in our most recent quarterly data.’
Analysis of the official NHS Referral to Treatment (RTT) figures show a steady rise in the independent sector’s role in tackling the NHS backlog over the last few years.
Biggest contributor
The IHPN reports trauma and orthopaedics and ophthalmology as the biggest contributors to the overall increase in independent sector activity since 2019.
In May 2024, trauma and orthopaedics activity was up by over one fifth (20.9%) compared with the same month in 2019, while ophthalmology, driven by a significant increase in capacity for delivering cataract replacement procedures, was up over 190% in the same period.
The private providers’ body said: ‘In total, the independent sector now delivers over one quarter (26.3%) of all NHS trauma and orthopaedics elective activity and over one fifth (23.6%) of all NHS ophthalmology activity, helping ophthalmology to be the only major specialty where median NHS waiting times are now lower than before the pandemic.
Shorter waits
‘The most recent NHS RTT data also shows that waiting times for NHS treatment continue to be shorter in the independent sector. Patients seen by independent providers had waited an average of under 13 weeks – compared with an average of 18 weeks for those seen by NHS providers.’
With the new Government committed to hitting NHS waiting time targets within five years and to delivering 40,000 extra appointments a week, the IHPN has set out how the capacity and capability on offer from independent providers can be further maximised to ensure more NHS patients can be diagnosed and treated more quickly.
It said this includes:
- Helping patients choose hospitals with lower waiting times – including in the independent sector;
- Providing clear incentives for all healthcare providers to increase activity, making it easier for providers to deliver new and additional NHS services;
- Increasing the productivity and capacity of NHS diagnostics services.
All NHS planned care services delivered by the independent sector are paid at NHS prices and delivered to NHS patients free at the point of use, with 92% of independent acute hospitals rated good or outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.
Mr Hare said: ‘This latest data shows the positive impact independent providers are having on both patients themselves and the wider NHS recovery, taking over a month off the average patient waiting time and removing almost three-quarters of a million people from the total waiting list in the first half of 2024 alone, with treatment delivered free at the point of use to NHS patients.’
