A view from Burges Salmon

The conclusions drawn from this year’s Going Private report paint a positive picture for private healthcare and its role in improving access to high quality healthcare in the UK.

It is notable from this year’s findings that individuals across all generations are increasingly more likely to use private healthcare in the next 12 months, and that their reasons for doing so are varied.

If this trend for growth was supported by a singular reason, or if a single age range was dominant, then it might be said that the trend will be a short term one.

However, the evidence supports the view that the growth trajectory will continue to move upwards, as people of all ages across the UK are accessing, and subsequently returning to, private healthcare. Whether that is because it provides more personalised care, faster access to that care, or simply a more convenient location and time to fit around busy schedules, individuals are increasingly demonstrating that these are choices that they are prepared to pay for, and that they find that the services provided represent value for money.

If there is one area that requires focus, it is increasing education and communication of how people can access private healthcare.

Generations have become accustomed to using the family GP as their first point of contact for many healthcare needs, then turning to ‘free at the point of use’ care for any ongoing needs by default. The sector has an important role to play in ensuring that in years to come people will, by default, consider the full range of healthcare service options that are available to them, including going private.

Patrick Parkin, Partner at Burges Salmon