Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
The number of NHS appointments, tests and operations offered by private hospitals and clinics has increased by almost 500,000 this year, now totaling 6.15 million.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the policy tackles the “two tier” system by cutting waiting times and ensuring prompt treatment for NHS patients in England. Private providers report providing around 10 per cent of alternative NHS activity.
Between August 2024 and September 2025 they performed an average of 19,000 surgical procedures and 100,000 outpatient appointments every week, and treated more than 1.1 million people.
Mr Streeting said: “I will do everything I can to ensure NHS patients get treatment faster and free of charge at the point of access.
“This is a principled, progressive position, not just a practical one.
“We are not prepared to continue two-tier health care, when those who can afford it get timely treatment, and those who cannot are left behind. Wealth should not determine health.”
Using spare capacity in the private sector is key to the Government’s aim to ensure that 92 per cent of patients in England wait no more than 18 weeks from referral for treatment.
Other measures to reduce waiting lists include the use of community diagnostic centers (CDCs) and performing more surgical procedures on evenings and weekends.
Mr Streeting said: “This is just one reform that has helped to deliver 5 million more appointments, increase NHS productivity and cut waiting lists by 200,000.
“We are also investing in increasing NHS capacity, opening CDCs and operating theaters in the evenings and weekends, and bringing in modern technology such as robotic surgery.
“Through investment and continuous improvement, we will ensure that every patient is treated on time, not just those who are best able to pay.”
David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, which represents private hospitals and clinics, said: “These latest figures demonstrate how important the independent sector is in providing much-needed NHS treatment – providing almost 10 per cent of all NHS elective activities, and providing record volumes of appointments, tests and scans – all free at the point of access for patients.”
Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew said: “While we welcome Labor acknowledging that collaboration with the independent sector is helping to see patients faster, the truth is they are still miles away from meeting their own NHS waiting-time target.
“Despite all the promises, patients are still having to wait too long for treatment, especially after seeing unconditional, anti-inflation pay increases for their union payers and the terrible strikes that followed this capitulation.”