The proportion of people using private healthcare has almost doubled in the last three years, new analysis reveals.
Healthwatch England commissioned Savanta to poll 2,593 adults (18+) to understand people's use of NHS and private healthcare, and their confidence in NHS services.
Chris McCann, acting chief executive at Healthwatch England, said: ‘The NHS 10-Year Plan aims to tackle long waits for elective care. However, this work needs to move faster if we want to boost patient confidence, stop the move towards two-tier healthcare and restore the NHS as a truly universal service for all.
‘As part of this, the Government must keep its pledge to make sure most people are seen and treated within 18 weeks of referral, including meeting the interim target of 65% of people by the end of this month.'
Nearly one in seven people, 16%, have used private services such as non‑urgent treatment and diagnostic tests in the past year, almost double the proportion in 2023, 9%.
Nearly four in ten, 39%, cited long waits as their main motivation, compared with 2023, when the most common reason was perceived better quality, 37%.
Other reasons people gave for going private included better quality of care, 31%, convenience, 30%, and being ineligible for the procedure on the NHS, 20%.
Only 10% of people earning under £20,000 used private care, compared with 35% of those earning £80,000 or more.
Only 32% said they were confident in getting timely hospital outpatient treatment, just a slight increase from 28% in 2023. Confidence remains particularly low for timely access to non‑urgent operations, 22%, and scans and diagnostics, 28%.
People also continue to have low confidence in getting other services without delay including mental health care, 22%, and GP appointments, 31%.
McCann called on the Government to introduce and publicly share the promised minimum patient experience standards for elective care, including timely confirmation that their referral has been received and accepted, not lost in an administrative black hole, and information on managing their symptoms while they wait.
He added patients should receive regular updates to confirm they are still on the waiting list and give enough notice of any planned cancellations.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We will end the unacceptable two-tier healthcare system we inherited that leaves patients feeling they have no choice but to go private.
‘We have made significant progress already – NHS waiting lists are at their lowest level in three years, A&E performance is the best in four years, GP satisfaction is on the rise, and we have delivered 1.8m more dentist treatments.
‘Our extra investment and modernisation is beginning to turn the tide, but we know there's a long way to go.'
