NHS use of the private sector is surging on Labour’s watch, according to the latest figures. So far this year there have been 6.15million appointments, tests and operations delivered by independent providers – an increase of nearly 500,000 on last year.
Labour claims patients have been able to cut waiting times by up to five months by switching to a nearby hospital with a shorter queue. The Department of Health and Social Care reports that “independent healthcare providers delivered an average of 19,000 surgical procedures and 100,000 outpatient appointments every week this financial year”, with more than 1.1million people treated.
The Government boasts waiting lists have gone down by 206,000 over the past year. The private sector has been brought in so the Government can hit its goal of 92% of patients in England waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting gave a full-throttle defence of the policy, saying: “I’ll do everything I can to get NHS patients treated faster, free at the point of use. This is a principled, progressive position, not just a pragmatic one.
“We’re not prepared to continue two-tier healthcare, when those who can afford it get treated on time, and those who can’t are left behind. Wealth shouldn’t determine health.”
He added: “Through investment and relentless reform, we will make sure every patient is treated on time, not just those who can afford to pay.”
Mr Streeting is also betting on “community diagnostic centres” improving delivery for patients. These have delivered more than 8.7million tests since July 2024.
Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew said: “While we welcome Labour conceding that cooperation with the independent sector is helping patients get seen faster, the truth is they are still miles off meeting their own NHS waiting-time targets. Despite all the promises, patients are still waiting far too long for treatment, especially after handing no strings inflation-busting pay rises to their union paymasters and seeing crippling strikes that followed this capitulation.”
“After more than a year in office, Labour is delivering press releases, not progress. Only the Conservatives have a plan to live within our means, rebuild a strong economy, and secure the long-term future of our National Health Service.”
But David Hare, chief executive of the independent healthcare providers network, said: “These latest figures demonstrate just how important the independent sector is in providing much-needed NHS treatment – delivering around 10% of all NHS elective activity, and a record amount of appointments, tests and scans – all free at the point of use to patients.”
