Treat NHS patients in private hospitals to cut waiting lists, government urged
One in six households in England contain someone stuck on an NHS waiting list, new analysis shows
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Your support makes all the difference.The number of patients waiting for an NHS operation has risen by more than a fifth since 2016, new analysis has revealed, prompting renewed calls for more procedures to be carried out in private hospitals.
NHS data has revealed there were 4.4 million people waiting to start treatment at the end of June – a 4.6 per cent rise from the previous June.
According to analysis of council tax data by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, this means about one in six households in England are likely to contain someone stuck on an NHS waiting list.
The body is calling on the government to make better use of spare capacity in the private sector to cut waiting times.
NHS patients have a legal right to choose to be treated in private hospitals, at no extra cost to the NHS, but only half are aware of this option.
The private sector delivers about 500,000 NHS operations every year, according to the NHS Confederation, of which the Independent Healthcare Providers Network is a member.
David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “Huge strides were made in the 2000s and early 2010s to ensure that the NHS was meeting its target of 92 per cent of patients treated within 18 weeks, but since then performance has undoubtedly slipped and we are on course for nearly 5.5 million people to be on a waiting list by 2022.
“Clearly that is unacceptable and we need to reverse that.”
Mr Hare said research has shown that several hundred thousand procedures more could be taking place in private hospitals, funded by the NHS, every year.
He added: “It’s undoubtedly the case that there is capacity in the private sector and it seems unfair on NHS patients where that capacity is available, free at point of use, to not make use of it if they are having to wait excessively long for treatment in the public sector.”
The public has a legal right to be treated within 18 weeks of a GP referral but this target has not been met in more than three years.
New NHS data shows that more than 600,000 people are now waiting in excess of 18 weeks.
Mr Hare said this shows the national health care system is now on “red alert” as winter approaches.
Press Association contributed to this report
This article was updated to correct use of "campaigners".
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