A view from Burges Salmon

Last year I noted that the evidence pointed to a sustained upward trajectory for private healthcare, as people of all ages across the UK were accessing — and returning to — the independent sector. This year’s Going Private research supports that view, and introduces a concept that captures something important: the “hybrid healthcare consumer”, reflecting a public that increasingly uses both NHS and private healthcare pragmatically, rather than treating them as opposing systems.

The findings speak for themselves. Over seven in ten people (71%) would now consider using private healthcare if they needed treatment, maintaining the significant gains seen since 2023 when the figure stood at 63%, while four in ten (40%) say they are likely to use it in the next twelve months. Younger adults continue to lead a generational shift, with 85% of 25–34 year olds open to private healthcare.

Perhaps most telling are the reasons the people are using private healthcare. Almost two thirds (62%) of people say the ability to access healthcare at convenient times matters more than whether care is delivered publicly or privately. The reasons for going private are broadening too: one in four (24%) now cite higher quality of care, up from 19% last year, and 44% went straight to the private sector first rather than attempting the NHS route, up from 40% the previous year. This is not a short-term reaction to a single pressure point; it reflects a deeper, more structural shift in how people think about their healthcare options.

There remains, however, an important gap. Just 49% of people say they would know where to go for more information on going private. Closing that gap — through clearer communication and better public-facing guidance — is work that remains to be done.

At Burges Salmon, our healthcare lawyers provide legal support to independent providers across the sector, and much of what we understand about the market comes from listening to our clients and hearing about the challenges and opportunities that they have. Going Private 2026 will inform those conversations in the year ahead, and we are grateful to the IHPN for the work that has gone into it.

Patrick Parkin – Partner at Burges Salmon