NHS waiting lists are main reason people use or consider private care – poll – Enfield Independent
Long NHS waiting lists are the most common reason for people opting for independent healthcare or considering using the private sector, a poll suggests.
The survey by Ipsos found that while just over six-in-10 people were neither using or planning to use private health services, about a third were either using private care or considering it within the next six months.
Of those, 44% said the main reason for this was NHS waiting times were too long, followed by about a third (35%) …….
Long NHS waiting lists are the most common reason for people opting for independent healthcare or considering using the private sector, a poll suggests.
The survey by Ipsos found that while just over six-in-10 people were neither using or planning to use private health services, about a third were either using private care or considering it within the next six months.
Of those, 44% said the main reason for this was NHS waiting times were too long, followed by about a third (35%) who said the quality of care will be, or is, better.
Some 43% said they found it too hard to get an NHS appointment, while a fifth (22%) said it was to ease the pressure on the NHS.
(PA Graphics)
The latest NHS England figures show that the number of people in England waiting for routine hospital treatments stood at a record 6.7 million at the end of June.
Health experts have said the record NHS backlog could be fuelling growing demand for private care, with data showing a 29% rise in people paying for healthcare out of their own pockets in 2021 compared to before the pandemic in 2019.
David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said that with waiting lists expected to grow, it was not surprising more people were considering paying for private treatment.
Jonathon Holmes, policy adviser at the King’s Fund, said it was “concerning” to see so many people considering using private treatments.
He added: “It suggests the performance data we are seeing and the almost systemic performance challenges across the NHS are clearly having a very tangible impact on people’s experience of care and are seeing the principle of NHS universality – free at the point of use – is not happening.”
Health leaders have warned that the Government cannot allow the creation of a two-tier health system with those who can afford it going private while others are forced to wait for NHS care.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said that whoever becomes Prime Minister next week must be ready to give the NHS the support it needs.
He added: “The NHS is in this dire situation because it is still reeling from a decade of austerity, continued underinvestment and understaffing, and the devastating consequences of the pandemic.
“The NHS is there for everyone and leaders can see plainly how the last two years have exacerbated health disparities across the country.
“Future Government policy must bear this in mind and not instil a two-tier system in the NHS based on affordability that …….
