The private healthcare sector has once again set a new record, with the highest ever rate of private hospital admissions recorded in the third quarter of any year.
In Q3 2024, º£½ÇÊÓƵ private hospitals (including self-pay and insured) saw 223,000 admissions, marking a one per cent increase from the same period last year (220,000), as reported by .
Despite a slight five per cent decrease in admissions from Q2 2024, this follows the seasonal trend observed in 2023.
The latest data from PHIN reveals that private medical insurance rose by nine per cent compared to the same quarter last year, while self-pay experienced a slow six per cent decline.
Comparing Q3 2024 to Q3 2023, every English region saw an increase in admissions funded by private medical insurance. London led the way with the most insured admissions, rising from 55,000 to 58,000, followed by the South East at 28,000.
Brett Hill, Head of Health and Protection at Broadstone, attributed this surge in the private healthcare sector to businesses.
"With NHS delays threatening to push millions out of work due to untreated conditions, businesses are increasingly turning to PMI as a proactive solution to safeguard both employee health and productivity," he explained.
He further highlighted that the "value of preventative healthcare benefits, such as health screenings and early interventions, is clearer than ever."
"With 80 per cent of private medical insurance policies funded by employers, businesses are not just ensuring their employees receive timely care – they are investing in long-term workforce resilience, avoiding the costly consequences of delayed treatment, and boosting overall productivity," he added.
Furthermore, the private medical insurance sector is poised to gain from the Government's intentions to overhaul the NHS in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
Just two weeks prior, it was announced that the Government had reached its goal of creating an additional two million NHS appointments, a full seven months ahead of schedule.
The Health Secretary Wes Streeting, during his engagements with the media, expressed his openness to private participation in the health service.
"I'm open to serious proposals from the NHS, or indeed anyone else," he professed.
