Introduction

David Hare, Chief Executive, IHPN

I am delighted to launch our sixth annual IHPN Industry Barometer: State of the Sector report, which provides a snapshot of how senior leaders across the independent healthcare sector feel about all their key markets and the issues affecting their business.

Over 50 of our members who deliver a range of services from acute, diagnostic, neurodevelopmental, primary and community to cancer care and insourcing, responded to our survey – providing a rich set of data and insights about both the private and NHS markets and prospects for the future.

Overall it’s clear the private healthcare market is continuing to thrive with much positivity around the prospects for growth, particularly with regards the domestic self-pay market, as well as new opportunities to support employers as they work to improve the health of their workforce through company schemes and other occupational health initiatives.

Against this positive backdrop however, it is clear that the NHS market is particularly challenging at the moment, with members feeling the effects of constrained public finances which are seen as the driving force behind local NHS commissioning decisions.

Equally, the continuing reform of the regulatory system continues to be a challenge for the sector, however members are increasingly optimistic about the role AI and other digital technologies can have on improving patient safety and quality. It’s also welcome to see that despite the difficult financial and operating environment, independent providers are still expecting their training of clinical staff to increase in the coming year.

We have been fortunate to have once again worked in partnership on the Industry Barometer with Practicus, whose purpose is to help organisations and people navigate change. We thank them for their continued ongoing support.

Thank you again to all our members who contributed to the survey, and I hope that you find the results interesting.