Around 898,000 people in the UK sought private hospital treatment in 2023, figures revealed today. It marks a seven per cent jump on the previous record set in 2022.
Compared to 2022, in 2023 the total number of Scottish patients skipping NHS-waiting lists and instead being admitted to a private hospital was up eleven per cent, with self-pay admissions up eight per cent - the highest level ever.
Soaring numbers of Scots patients are opting to pay for private operations as NHS waiting times hit record highs. Around 46,000 patients were forced to dip into their own savings last year.
Scotland has seen the biggest increase in privately funded in-patient admissions of any UK nation, with more than 1,700 paying for chemotherapy last year.