Patients went private as NHS admissions rose to their highest level since Q3 2019.

Richard Wells, Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) director of technology and insights, said: ‘This was a very positive quarter for the private healthcare sector, despite the slight downturn in admissions compared to the record holding Q1 2024. The proportion of private healthcare activity relative to total NHS England admissions rose to its highest level since Q1 2023. This suggests continued confidence in the independent sector, even as NHS activity starts to rebound.'

There were notable variations in private admissions between the UK nations when compared to Q1 2024, however, with increases in Scotland (+5%) and Northern Ireland (+1.6%) and declines in England (-1.3%) and Wales (-0.5%).

Private medical insurance-funded admissions rose slightly (up 0.3%), while self-pay admissions fell by 4% for the same periods.

Chemotherapy was the only one of the top 10 procedures to have a rise in admissions compared to Q1 2024, up by 5.9%. Significant growth was observed in less common procedures, such as varicose vein treatments (up 629%) and allergy testing (up 514%).

Admissions increased the most among patients aged 40–59, while the largest declines were seen in the 70–79 and 90–99 age groups.

Admissions for female patients (130,500) continued to be more common than for male patients (109,000).