{"id":616747,"date":"2026-06-02T09:15:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/616747\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T09:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:15:12","slug":"private-healthcare-admissions-in-scotland-hit-record-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/616747\/","title":{"rendered":"Private healthcare admissions in Scotland hit record levels"},"content":{"rendered":"

The number of private healthcare admissions in Scotland has hit record levels for a fifth consecutive year, figures show.<\/p>\n

Statistics released by the Private Healthcare Information Network (Phin) show about 54,000 admissions to private settings in 2025, an increase of 6%.<\/p>\n

Some 29,470 people were admitted using their private medical insurance, an increase of 5%.<\/p>\n

The number of people paying to go private increased by 7%.<\/p>\n

Scotland saw the sharpest increase in private healthcare use in the UK, with Wales increasing by 1.8%, England by 0.6% and Northern Ireland reducing by 4.8% between 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n

Cataract surgery was the most popular procedure for those going private, with more than 9,000 people seeking treatment last year, 7,335 of those self-funding their procedures.<\/p>\n

Hip replacements, endoscopies, colonoscopies and knee arthroscopy made up the top five procedures.<\/p>\n

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: \u201cThese damning statistics show John Swinney and the SNP have let a two-tier healthcare system take hold in Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecord numbers of Scots are being forced to spend their savings on basic care, while others have no choice but to languish on endless NHS waiting lists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the future of our NHS on the line, we cannot afford another five years of SNP failure.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn Swinney and the SNP must end the creeping privatisation of our NHS and deliver an NHS that is there for people when they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said the statistics should be a \u201csource of shame\u201d for ministers.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn Swinney broke his promise to eradicate year-long waits in Scotland\u2019s NHS by the end of March \u2013 forcing more and more patients to raid their lifesavings and go private, while those who can\u2019t afford this option are left to suffer in pain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSNP ministers cannot ignore this crisis a second longer. John Swinney must back our bold plan to slash bureaucracy, reduce the number of middle managers and surge resources to the frontline to get waiting lists down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard Wells, the director of technology and insights at Phin, said: \u201cPrivate hospital admissions in Scotland continue to increase year-on-year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis shows the importance some patients place on the choice offered by the private sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe total number of admissions still represents less than 1% of the population in Scotland, with the majority of people still being treated by the NHS.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth private medical insurance and self-pay admissions were at record levels. Our data shows though that there are distinct differences between the type of procedures people have, depending on how it is being funded.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n

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