Headline Findings

Confidence is rapidly growing in the domestic self-pay market. Against a backdrop of the continuing challenges around accessing NHS care, almost 8 in 10 (78%) of respondents reported feeling positive or very positive about this payor group, compared with 62% last year.

Independent healthcare leaders feel upbeat around insured activity. Almost two thirds of providers (63%) “positive” or “very positive” about this market – reflecting the recent figures showing that private healthcare insurance coverage is at its highest levels for more than 25 years.

The sector is facing challenges around the NHS market and wider state of public finances. Almost 9 in 10 providers (88%) citing the pressure to achieve savings as the principal driver of NHS commissioner behaviour over the next few years. However, the survey also shows welcome improvement in the extent to which independent providers feel they are part of their local NHS Integrated Care Systems – rising to 65% this year, compared with 51% in last year.

Independent sector leaders are looking to AI. 78% of respondents identified advances in artificial intelligence and other digital tools as the biggest opportunity around improving quality and patient safety – the first time this has featured in the survey. And with an increase in independent healthcare providers looking to upskill and adapt their existing workforce, the survey also shows clear aspirations from the sector to increase clinical training, with 46% of independent healthcare leaders expecting this to increase in the next five years.

You can watch a video below of Danielle Henry and Andrew Vaux discussing the main takeaways: