More Scots are paying for routine operations out of their own pocket as health service waiting lists continue to grow, new figures show.

The number of people in Scotland paying for private procedures has grown by 44% since 2019.

A total of 3,400 patients opted to self-fund their treatment between April and June 2021, compared to 2,300 over the same period in 2019, according to the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN).

Simultaneously, the number of operations funded by insurance policies – which do not typically cover pre-existing conditions – dropped.

PHIN chief executive Matt James said: “With hundreds of thousands of NHS and private elective operations lost in 2020 due to the pandemic, and waiting lists consistently in the news, it is perhaps unsurprising to see people considering self-funding private treatment even if they had not done so previously.”

The waiting list for an NHS outpatient appointment grew to nearly 400,000 over the first half of this year, according to Public Health Scotland’s most recent update.

Another 100,000 were waiting for treatment as an inpatient or day case.

Nuffield Health, which has one hospital in Scotland, confirmed activity had risen past pre-pandemic levels.

A spokesperson said: “We are welcoming existing and new patients who are confidently visiting our Glasgow Hospital for orthopaedic (joint care), spinal surgery, ophthalmology and weight loss surgery.

“We are seeing self-pay demand rising at our Glasgow Hospital and this is exceeding the level of activity experienced for the same period before the pandemic. This increase is being managed confidently by our Glasgow Hospital team”

Rival provider BMI, part of the Circle Health Group, is investing millions to expand its facilities north of the border, including the Braehead development and an £8.5m expansion to the Aberdeen Albyn hospital.

And last month Spire reported "unprecedented" demand across its 40 UK hospitals in the first half of 2021.

PHIN is an independent body set up to address concerns about a shortage of public information about private healthcare.

The figures released this week cover privately-funded elective admissions but not other services such as outpatient appointments or diagnostic tests.

Demand was particularly pronounced for cataract surgery, up by 85%, and hip replacements, which rose by 144%.

The growth in Scotland was mirrored across the rest of the UK, which recorded a 30% rise in people self-funding treatment.

A YouGov poll commissioned by PHIN suggests more people are open to funding their own treatment.

A fifth of those surveyed said the pandemic had made them more likely to consider using private healthcare.

But three quarters cited concerns over the cost of private treatment.

Cataract procedures can cost around £3,000, and joint replacements can reach nearly £15,000.

PHIN says anyone considering going down the self-funding route should thoroughly research their options and ask for a “package price”.

CEO Matt James said: “We would say to all those thinking about this route to make sure they are fully informed so they make the choices that are correct for them and to avoid surprises.   

“It’s important to ask the right questions about costs as well as the performance of the consultant and hospital facilities. Our website can help people research their private healthcare options, helping them navigate a confusing system, particularly those self-paying.” 

 

 

Read more: Comment: Is a deal with private hospitals inevitable?; Private health provider expands Scottish sites; Independent health provider expands Scots presence

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