Scots private hospital admissions hit highest quarterly level on record

Private hospital admissions in Scotland have reached their highest quarterly level on record, according to new data. In the second quarter of 2024, there were 12,660 admissions to private in-patient and day-care hospitals, marking a 7% increase from the same period the previous year. The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) reported that the use of private medical insurance (PMI) was up 12% compared to the same quarter in 2023, with a record high of around 7,000 admissions. On the other hand, self-pay admissions, where patients finance their own treatment, remained steady compared to the second quarter of 2023, but saw a slight 1% increase from the first quarter of 2024.

Cataract surgery emerged as the top procedure in the second quarter of 2024, with 2,300 operations performed, up from 2,205 in the corresponding period the previous year. However, hip replacements, which ranked second, experienced a decrease in the number of procedures carried out, dropping from 695 in Q2 last year to 655 this year. While all other procedures in the top 10 saw increases in the number of operations, “bladder examination via cystoscopy” and “primary knee replacement” were the exceptions.

Additionally, the data revealed that the number of consultants active in private healthcare in Scotland reached its highest ever level in the second quarter of 2024, up by 5% compared to Q2 2023. The field with the highest number of active consultants was trauma & orthopaedics, with 128 consultants in Q2 2024, up from 116 in the same period the year before.

PHIN director Richard Wells commented on the findings, attributing the increase in private hospital admissions partially to long NHS waiting lists, as well as a rising number of businesses offering private medical insurance to their employees. He encouraged individuals considering private healthcare to visit the PHIN website for unbiased information to make more informed choices.

These latest statistics highlight the evolving landscape of healthcare in Scotland, with more people turning to private hospitals for treatment. As the demand for private healthcare services continues to rise, it underscores the importance of providing accessible and efficient healthcare options for the population.