The rise of private healthcare: A new UK health landscape

The latest Going Private report from Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) highlights a clear trend: private healthcare is no longer a niche choice, but a growing part of the UK’s health landscape.

🔹 71% of people would now consider using private healthcare, up nearly 10% in just two years.

🔹 Almost half (49%) of 35–44 year olds expect to use it this year.

🔹 Employers are becoming a key driver of access, with 62% saying all workplaces should offer private healthcare as part of their benefits package.

🔹 Patient satisfaction remains strikingly high, with 88% saying their experience represented value for money.

For us at the IDrF, these findings reinforce a vital truth. The future of healthcare lies not in silos, but in a one health ecosystem where NHS, independent providers, employers and insurers work together. Private healthcare is not about competing with the NHS. It’s about:

🤝 Building private–public partnerships that expand access

👩‍⚕️ Embedding independent clinicians to deliver flexible, patient-centred care

🏥 Supporting employers to keep workforces healthier and more productive

As the system adapts to rising demand, there is a clear opportunity for a more integrated, collaborative model that combines the strengths of every sector to deliver faster, smarter and more equitable care.