HealthcareMillions-Long NHS Waiting List Pushes More People to Private Healthcare

Millions of people in England are on hospital waiting lists that stretch into months and even years due to an enormous backlog of cases because of the covid-19 pandemic, as people put off having procedures during lockdowns and are now making appointments, official figures show.

More than 5.45 million people across the country are waiting for treatment for various conditions and diseases, and some have been on a waiting list for more than two years, according to data from the National Health Service (NHS).

The figures are a new record in long waiting periods to see a doctor and begin treatment since the NHS began keeping such records in 2007. It comes as more people than ever decide to opt for private healthcare in London and elsewhere in England.

All Hospital Departments Affected

The types of treatments people are waiting for include problems related to gynaecology, gastroenterology, urology, dermatology and ophthalmology, among others, the NHS said. Pediatric and mental health services are also affected, with long waiting lists.

The Independent Healthcare Providers Network, an advocacy group representing the private healthcare sector, said that with people’s health at risk, many could no longer afford to wait months, if not years, for treatment and were turning to private hospitals and clinics.

“With NHS waiting lists now at record levels, it is not surprising that more patients across the country are looking at private healthcare,” its chief executive, David Hare, said.

“With the public consistently stating that bringing down waiting lists is their number one priority for the NHS, people need to be reassured that the government is doing everything possible to tackle this significant challenge head-on. A clear plan from the government setting out how the growing care backlog will be tackled cannot come soon enough,” he added, separately.

Waiting Lists Predicted to Grow

The government, however, said it would “see what it could do” about the lengthy waiting times, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid warning that lists were likely to get even longer as more people sought treatment after the covid-19 crisis.

“We estimate there’s probably some 7 million people that ordinarily would have come forward to the NHS that stayed away, understandably, during the height of the pandemic,” he said.

“We want those people to come back. I don’t know how many will come back but, even if half of them came to the NHS — and can I just stress I really want people that need to be seen by the NHS to know the NHS is there for them and they should come forward — but as they do I think waiting lists will rise because there will be a huge increase in demand.”

The Luxury of Private Healthcare

In stark contrast to the NHS’ waiting lists, when people make an appointment at a private hospital, they’re seen almost immediately. They typically get access to the best doctors and benefit from the latest procedures and equipment because private hospitals generally have bigger budgets and can afford to pay higher salaries and invest more in their facilities.

Surroundings are often luxurious, with private hospital beds often resembling hotels instead of medical institutions, and patients may even be offered fine dining that they can order from a menu. As for fees, patients can pay as they go or use their health insurance if they have a policy.

As the pandemic continues and public healthcare waiting lists grow longer all the time, it looks sure that private hospitals will continue to see increased demand for treatment and procedures.