What is the current demand like for planned hospital care?

The demand for planned hospital care in England has reached unprecedented levels, with the waiting list for such care surging to a record high of 7.4 million in April of this year. This escalation is attributed to various factors, including increased demand for elective joint replacements.

As a result, private providers have become more involved in addressing the growing waiting lists, offering new care arrangements for patients. However, discussions about the role of private providers in supporting the healthcare system are ongoing, reflecting concerns about maintaining quality care.

What impact has the pandemic had on private healthcare?

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted elective care in private healthcare. During the first year of the pandemic (2020/21), total elective inpatient admissions witnessed a drastic decline of 30 per cent compared to the previous year (2019/20). While activity started to recover in 2021/22, the total number of admissions remained nine per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels.

What is the current state of clinical procedures in private healthcare?

For most common procedures, privately provided care constitutes around 10 per cent or less of the total, dropping even lower to three per cent for certain procedures. However, for elective joint replacements, there is an equal division between private providers and publicly funded healthcare services. While half of these procedures (51 per cent) are provided by private providers, only a quarter were paid for privately. Overall, most of the care is either funded by or provided by the NHS as opposed to the private sector (Figure 1, Ref 1).

While the private sector has shown resilience in recovering from the pandemic's impact on elective care, discussions about its role in supporting the healthcare system continues. As demand for elective joint replacements and other planned care persists, private providers will likely play a significant role in addressing waiting lists. As we navigate the path to recovery, understanding the division of care between private providers is crucial in ensuring quality healthcare for patients in need of elective procedures.

If you’re looking to discuss your symptoms in your knee or hip joint with advice from a leading expert, arrange a consultation with Mr Agrawal via his Top Doctors profile.

Ref 1: Bagri S and Scobie S (2023) “How much planned care in England is delivered and funded privately?”, Nuffield Trust explainer