Private healthcare use hits 'record high' in Scotland

The number of people using private healthcare has hit a “record high” in Scotland, according to a new report.

Private Healthcare Information Network revealed that the first quarter of 2024 saw the highest number of private in-patient/day-care admissions ever.

In their new report it was found that over 11,980 admissions were reported in Q1, with the use of private medical insurance going up by 11% from the same quarter in 2023, which is a record high.

The report added that there has been an increase in reported admissions in four of the past five quarters in Scotland.

Admissions paid for with insurance have increased in eight of the last ten quarters and have been above pre-pandemic levels for the past five quarters since Q1 in 2023.

Self-pay patients, where they fund their own treatment from their savings, a loan or fundraising, reduced for the third quarter in a row and was 7% down on Q1 2023.

The report noted that self-pay admissions in Scotland have been falling for the past three quarters, although they remain significantly above the highest pre-pandemic levels.

There was an increase in reported admissions in six of the top ten procedures by volume when comparing Q1 2023 and Q1 2024.

Procedures with the most private patients continued to be cataract surgery, however, this was a decrease from 2023 with 1,665 patients getting the treatment via private healthcare.

Knee replacement surgery had the biggest increase by 80 patients which marked a 22% increase.

The report also noted an increase in admissions across all age groups younger than 70 from Q1 2023 to this year.

The largest increase by volume was in the 30-39 age-group with 165 patients with the 20-29 age group had the second biggest increase by 140 patients.

The 0-9 age group saw an 100% increase compared with the 90-99 age group which saw a decrease of 32%.

The 50-59 age-group, which the network said traditionally the “highest user of private healthcare” had one of the lowest percentage increases at 3%.

The 80-89 age-group had the largest reduction with 110 less patients.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The number of patients self-paying for private treatment in Scotland is falling – but we know many still face unacceptable long waits.

“Our investment of £30m supporting significant targeted action across a number of specialties, including orthopaedics, to clear the longest waits.

“This new funding will see around 12,000 additional new outpatient appointments, around 12,000 additional inpatient/day-case procedures and over 40,000 diagnostic procedures delivered.”

The NHS has been contacted for comment.