The latest quarterly NHS data analysis from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) on how many NHS patients are treated by independent sector providers has found that the sector is now delivering almost one in five of all NHS operations, and in the first five months of 2024 alone have removed almost three quarters of a million people from the NHS waiting list.
Looking at official NHS Referral to Treatment (RTT) figures, as well as the NHS’ Independent Sector Weekly Activity Return (WAR), there has been a steady rise in the independent sector’s role in tackling the NHS backlog over the last few years.
Independent sector providers are on average delivering more than 100,000 patient care episodes per week so far in 2024 - an increase of, on average, around one third (30,000 patients per week) since the WAR dataset began publication in 2021. In the first half of 2024, independent providers had increased NHS activity by more than 30% compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Trauma and orthopaedics and ophthalmology are the biggest contributors to the overall increase in independent sector activity since 2019. In May 2024, trauma and orthopaedics activity was up by over one fifth (20.9%) compared with the same month in 2019, while ophthalmology, driven by a significant increase in capacity for delivering cataract replacement procedures, was up over 190% in the same period. In total the independent sector now delivers over one quarter (26.3%) of all NHS trauma and orthopaedics elective activity and over one fifth (23.6%) of all NHS ophthalmology activity, helping ophthalmology to be the only major specialty where median NHS waiting times are now lower than before the pandemic.
The most recent NHS RTT data also shows that waiting times for NHS treatment continue to be shorter in the independent sector. Patients seen by independent providers had waited an average of under 13 weeks – compared with an average of 18 weeks for those seen by NHS providers.
With the new Government committed to hitting NHS waiting time targets within five years and to delivering 40,000 extra appointments a week, IHPN have set out how the capacity and capability on offer from independent providers can be further maximised to ensure that more NHS patients can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.
This includes helping patients choose hospitals with lower waiting times (including in the independent sector), providing clear incentives for all healthcare providers to increase activity, making it easier for providers to deliver new and additional NHS services, and increasing the productivity and capacity of NHS diagnostics services.
All NHS planned care services delivered by the independent sector are paid at NHS prices and delivered to NHS patients free at the point of use, with 92% of independent acute hospitals rated good or outstanding by the CQC.
David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “This latest data shows the positive impact independent providers are having on both patients themselves and the wider NHS recovery, taking over a month off the average patient waiting time and removing almost three quarters of a million people from the total waiting list in the first half of 2024 alone, with treatment delivered free at the point of use to NHS patients.
“The new government has been clear that the independent sector is an important part of helping to get NHS waiting times down for patients and there is a real commitment from the sector to ensuring that the capacity and contribution that the sector makes is scaled up over the months and years ahead, building on the good progress highlighted in our most recent quarterly data.”
