IHPN response to Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) data update

In response to the latest Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) quarterly data update, David Hare, Chief Executive of IHPN commented:

“The latest data shows strong sustained demand for private healthcare, with large numbers of patients choosing to use the private sector to access healthcare. 936,000 people received hospital based elective care in the private healthcare sector from March 2024 to March 2025, paying for this either by their own means or through insurance, which is an 8% increase compared to two years previously.

“We know that NHS waiting lists are a key driver for why people use private Healthcare, with our Going Private report finding that 46% of private healthcare users cited the inability to access NHS care in a timely manner as a key reason for using the sector.

“Those who use private healthcare see it as good product. 28% of users said they did so because they find it easier to book private healthcare appointments, and 24% said it was because they can get more personalised care through private healthcare. 80% of all those who have previously accessed private healthcare have a positive attitude towards it, and 88% said that their treatment was worth the money

“Employers also have an impact on the demand for private healthcare. Research shows that businesses are concerned about the impact of NHS delays on staff absence rates and productivity, and are using private healthcare and private medical insurance (PMI) to mitigate the impact. 1 in 7 Britons are now covered by a PMI policy, with 80% of them, or 3.8 million people, covered by a policy their employer had taken out.

“Our Going Private report found that 24% of respondents said they went private because they had PMI, and that increasing amounts of people identifying it as a key perk when searching for new jobs, with 69% of 18-44 year olds believing that all workplaces should offer private healthcare as part of their employee benefits package.

“Businesses are relying heavily on the sector to keep the British workforce healthy, and the government should not impede businesses from doing so. We hope that the upcoming budget will introduce measures that reward employers for supporting the health and wellbeing of their staff, which would reduce the impacts of inactivity on the economy.”