The Market – an overview

Our members were asked about their key markets, including for NHS-funded, PMI-funded, and domestic and international self-pay.

In describing the current market environment, respondents feel most positively about the insured market, with 74% of respondents viewing it very positively or positively. This is followed by domestic self-pay services at 62% and international self-pay at 53%, followed by NHS-funded services at 40%.

When we compare these findings to last year, the biggest changes are in NHS funded services and international self-pay. Respondents are feeling less positive about the market for the provision of NHS funded services – an decrease to 40% feeling very positive or positive from 54% in 2022.  

The PMI funded market is the area that the industry continues to feel the most positive about, with 74% this year feeling positive or very positive, albeit with a growing number feeling neither positive nor negative – from 8% last year to 24% this year.

Respondent comments suggest that demand in the domestic self-pay market is still strong, fuelled by ever growing NHS waiting lists for elective care and access challenges in general practice, although we can see that the growth is potentially tapering off. 

In terms of the market of international self-pay, respondents this year are feeling much more confident, with an increase from 10% feeling very positive or positive last year to 53% this year. This is an area IHPN has worked closely on, particularly through its Healthcare London scheme.