The private sector treated more than 1.5 million patients from waiting lists last year, particularly in orthopaedics and ophthalmology care.
Over the past four years, the number of NHS patients who were served by the private sector has increased by 50%.
According to data from membership body the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), the independent health sector delivered almost half a million (460,000) episodes of care a month last year for NHS patients, including appointments, scans, tests and surgical procedures.
All activity was paid at NHS prices.
It is now the case that independent providers are delivering 10% of all NHS elective care, and the sector carried out almost one in five NHS operations overall in the past 12 months – 18,000 every week.
“This latest data shows the independent sector’s increasingly pivotal role in delivering frontline NHS care – treating and removing more than 1.5 million patients from the waiting list in 2024 and helping the government to meet its key milestone to ensure 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks by the end of this parliament,” said David Hare, chief executive of the IHPN.
Orthopaedics and ophthalmology
The sector is playing a particular role in the delivery of NHS orthopaedics and ophthalmology care. In November last year, for example, over 22% of all NHS trauma and orthopaedics activity and over 21% of all NHS ophthalmology activity were delivered by independent providers.
As Healthcare Today reported, earlier this month the government published a new partnership agreement with the independent sector as part of plans to end the hospital waiting list backlog.
“This new agreement will help to cut waiting time faster in parts of the country where the need is greatest,” said health and social care secretary Wes Streeting.
The NHS and Independent Sector Partnership Agreement will help expand capacity and widen patient choice by setting out how more treatments can be delivered through the independent sector, with care remaining free at the point of use.
The independent healthcare sector estimates that it can provide an additional 1 million appointments a year for NHS patients.
“Given NHS waiting lists are still at record levels, the sector is committed to building on this already impressive achievement and will be working with the government to ensure the principles contained in the recent NHS and independent sector partnership are fully embedded – enabling patients to have a greater choice over their care so they can get the treatment they need, when they need it,” said Hare.
