US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Fears of two-tier health system as more turn to private care, says watchdog
Healthwatch England warns 16% of people will pay for private care by 2025 due to long NHS waits and low confidence in NHS hospital services.
- Healthwatch England warned private healthcare use rose from 9% in 2023 to 16% by 2025, risking a two-tier system in England.
- Savanta-Run polls and patient feedback indicated 39% cited NHS waiting times and 30% cited convenience in 2025, from nearly 2,600 respondents and 390,000 pieces of feedback.
- Figures show nearly 950,000 private operations last year, and 35% of those earning over £80,000 went private, said Leckie, 'I was in tremendous pain, but just could not get the help I needed from the NHS'.
- An NHS England spokesperson said record appointments and tests cut 18-week waits, while waiting lists fell to 7.25 million treatments at the end of January.
- David Hare said private care is becoming the 'new normal' as private GP appointments rise and people seek private mental health care and weight-loss drugs.
Insights by Ground AI
8 Articles
8 Articles
Private Healthcare Use Doubles as NHS Waiting Times Drive Patients Away
New research commissioned by Healthwatch England has revealed a significant and accelerating shift in how people in England are accessing healthcare, with the proportion of adults turning to private services having nearly doubled in just one year. The consumer polling organisation Savanta surveyed 2,593 adults aged 18 and over to assess their use of NHS and private healthcare and to gauge confidence levels in NHS services. The findings paint a c…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources8
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 29%
R 28%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
