Is cheap private healthcare killing the NHS?
2 years, 11 months ago

Is cheap private healthcare killing the NHS?

The Independent  

During the early months of the pandemic, John needed to see a GP. However, I acknowledge that I’m in a fortunate position where I can afford to do this.” John now says although he would rely on the NHS for a serious or prolonged condition, for minor or easily resolved medical complaints going private instead of trying to get a GP appointment is a “no brainer”. If this were to become the new normal after the pandemic, it would worsen overall health and widen inequality.” open image in gallery The decline in NHS services caused by the pandemic has led to many people opting out of the system Chris Thomas, principal research fellow at IPPR, says the motivation for opting out differed among age groups but the trend repeated itself across young and old. open image in gallery In a recent poll, 77 per cent of people said the NHS made them proud to be British “I think the equation that people are making is that the prices for these procedures are not outrageous, they’re within the reach of many middle-class families, and if someone in their fifties, sixties or seventies, they’re making a big trade-off in terms of waiting for an operation and sacrificing quality of life,” Vize says. She describes the easy access to a virtual GP as “an amazing positive difference”, but importantly Vennis is pleased she’s able to do this through the NHS, and doesn’t have to pay for the service.

Healthcare Pandemic Access Health Services Young People Private John Waiting Nhs Older People Ippr Brannon Private Healthcare Private Medicine Nhs Care Vize Care Killing Engage Britain  nhs  pandemic  care  killing  health  services  access  private  service  cheap  waiting  gp  healthcare

History of this topic

Health Secretary signals support for more private investment to fix the NHS
1 month, 1 week ago

Health Secretary signals support for more private investment to fix the NHS

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. She said: “We need to think much more radically, …

Independent readers divided over the private sector’s role in the NHS
2 months ago

Independent readers divided over the private sector’s role in the NHS

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. As Labour leader Keir Starmer outlines plans to address NHS waiting lists, the debate over …

Keir Starmer is ‘betraying’ the NHS with private sector expansion, says Jeremy Corbyn
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Keir Starmer is ‘betraying’ the NHS with private sector expansion, says Jeremy Corbyn

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “betraying” the health …

Jeremy Corbyn: Keir Starmer needs reminding that the NHS is not for sale
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Jeremy Corbyn: Keir Starmer needs reminding that the NHS is not for sale

The Independent  

The Whittington Hospital in north London serves more than half a million people living in Islington and beyond. By starving the NHS of resources, the government tested what Noam Chomsky has described as the “standard technique” of privatisation: “Defund, make sure things don’t work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital.” Today, the new Labour government is …

Desperate Brits now prioritising access to NHS services over ‘free at point of care’
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Desperate Brits now prioritising access to NHS services over ‘free at point of care’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Major new polling for Policy Exchange showed that improved NHS performance for core services, including …

Patients think getting quicker access to a GP is more important than principle of a free NHS, study reveals
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Patients think getting quicker access to a GP is more important than principle of a free NHS, study reveals

Daily Mail  

Patients would rather get quicker access to a GP and hospital treatment than keep the NHS free at the point of use, a study reveals. Its representative poll of 2,000 voters found 61 per cent want health chiefs to prioritise easier access to GPs and 44 per cent want them to focus on more timely treatment for life-threatening conditions. The …

Starmer unveils overhaul of NHS – everything you need to know on changes to GPs and hospitals
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Starmer unveils overhaul of NHS – everything you need to know on changes to GPs and hospitals

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. An upgraded NHS app open image in gallery Changes to the NHS app should help …

Wes Streeting says he feels shame at people being treated in NHS hospital corridors
3 months ago

Wes Streeting says he feels shame at people being treated in NHS hospital corridors

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Patients being treated in hospital corridors is the shame of the …

How the private healthcare system is growing in the wake of NHS struggles
5 months ago

How the private healthcare system is growing in the wake of NHS struggles

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The report authors are warning that NHS’s use of …

You really don’t want to know what I think of how the NHS treated me, Mr Streeting…
5 months ago

You really don’t want to know what I think of how the NHS treated me, Mr Streeting…

The Independent  

This is my submission to the government’s public consultation on the NHS, which looks suspiciously like an exercise in buying time while it draws up a 10-year plan by next spring. I’ve just experienced the best and the worst of the NHS, two issues that Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is talking about as he tentatively sets out Labour’s much-vaunted …

Private hospitals to rescue NHS
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Private hospitals to rescue NHS

The Telegraph  

The new plans, now under discussion with the independent sector, would vastly extend this, with private companies having the chance to win a greater share of the market. 2.5 million extra patients treated privately This would mean around 7.5 million NHS patients a year treated in private hospitals, up from around 5 million now. A Government source said: “If there …

The NHS saved my life – twice. Now it feels like it’s trying to kill me. Wes Streeting is right...
6 months ago

The NHS saved my life – twice. Now it feels like it’s trying to kill me. Wes Streeting is right...

The Independent  

The NHS is “broken”, says health secretary Wes Streeting, as he warned against “killing it with kindness” and vowed not to back down in his mission to reform the health service. Lord Darzi’s landmark report into the NHS two weeks ago described the health service as “in serious trouble”, pointing out that the health of the nation has deteriorated; that …

NHS must 'reform or die': Damning report finds health service is failing despite billions of extra investment - urging Keir Starmer to stop 'throwing money at hospitals' and focus on community care, t
6 months, 2 weeks ago

NHS must 'reform or die': Damning report finds health service is failing despite billions of extra investment - urging Keir Starmer to stop 'throwing money at hospitals' and focus on community care, t

Daily Mail  

Keir Starmer is warning that the NHS must 'reform or die' today after a damning report found billions of pounds in extra investment has failed to boost performance. In a round of interviews this morning ahead of Sir Keir's keynote speech, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the NHS 'unquestionably' wastes money and could go 'bust' without fundamental change. Sir Keir …

Streeting says NHS ‘broken but not beaten’ as he seeks private sector deal
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Streeting says NHS ‘broken but not beaten’ as he seeks private sector deal

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said the NHS is “broken …

NHS waiting lists force Britons to save up to pay for private healthcare, says report
6 months, 3 weeks ago

NHS waiting lists force Britons to save up to pay for private healthcare, says report

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy NHS waiting lists mean most people in the UK now expect …

British healthcare is ‘bottom of the pack’ compared with other wealthy nations
7 months ago

British healthcare is ‘bottom of the pack’ compared with other wealthy nations

The Telegraph  

Ruth Thorlby, Health Foundation’s assistant director of policy, said: “These findings show the UK consistently coming near the bottom of the pack on people’s experience of healthcare compared with other high-income countries. The Government is right to prioritise bringing down waiting lists, but that can only be done with a concerted effort to improve primary care and ensuring good coordination …

It’s time to cut out the NHS middle man
7 months, 3 weeks ago

It’s time to cut out the NHS middle man

The Independent  

Having retired as a nurse from the NHS last year with 20-plus-years service, the trend towards employing an increasing number of senior managers, directors and managers has finally come home to roost. David Kennedy Address supplied No more ‘free money’ for pensioners like me I started receiving the winter fuel payment about 10 years ago when still in professional employment, …

GPs are squandering whatever public support they have left by betraying us all: DR MARTIN SCURR
7 months, 3 weeks ago

GPs are squandering whatever public support they have left by betraying us all: DR MARTIN SCURR

Daily Mail  

The worst of all worlds – that’s the only way to sum up the disgraceful decision by more than 8,500 GPs to vote for industrial action ahead of negotiations with the Government over new contracts. Several of them are downright dangerous to patients, despite claims by the doctors’ union that by implementing them, GPs can ‘support a safe service for …

Government already started on work to fix ‘broken’ NHS, says Prime Minister
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Government already started on work to fix ‘broken’ NHS, says Prime Minister

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The newly-elected Labour Government has …

Shadow health secretary considered using private healthcare after finding lump
9 months ago

Shadow health secretary considered using private healthcare after finding lump

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour’s shadow health secretary has said he considered using private …

We won’t use private healthcare, say Labour shadow ministers
9 months, 3 weeks ago

We won’t use private healthcare, say Labour shadow ministers

The Telegraph  

Labour frontbenchers have insisted they would not use private healthcare after Sir Keir Starmer ruled out doing so. It comes after Sir Keir said he would not use private healthcare even if he had a relative stuck on the NHS waiting list for life-saving care. Asked during Tuesday’s TV debate whether he would turn to private care in such a …

The great rush to go private! Number of Brits ditching NHS soars to all-time high as ailing hospitals battle 'eternal winter'
1 year ago

The great rush to go private! Number of Brits ditching NHS soars to all-time high as ailing hospitals battle 'eternal winter'

Daily Mail  

Record numbers of Brits are now ditching the NHS and going private amid lengthy delays. It marks a seven per cent jump on the previous record of 618,000 set over the same time period in 2022 Cataract surgery in quarter three was the most popular private procedure, followed by chemotherapy. Fresh research, published in the Lancet Oncology, last week revealed …

NHS goes private in biggest expansion of sector since Blair
1 year, 7 months ago

NHS goes private in biggest expansion of sector since Blair

The Telegraph  

The latest plans aim to make maximum use of all diagnostic and surgical capacity, regardless of where it comes from. “That is the start of it, but the intention is something far more ambitious, to squeeze much more out of the independent sector so that supply and demand can be matched in real time.” Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary, said: …

Government turns to private clinics to help tackle NHS waiting lists
1 year, 7 months ago

Government turns to private clinics to help tackle NHS waiting lists

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Government has turned to private sector capacity in a …

One in four GPs has private medical insurance amid worries about state of NHS – poll
1 year, 7 months ago

One in four GPs has private medical insurance amid worries about state of NHS – poll

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I have and will continue to seek a private opinion for myself or my …

NHS doing ‘substantially less well’ than similar countries, says shock report
1 year, 9 months ago

NHS doing ‘substantially less well’ than similar countries, says shock report

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The NHS is performing “substantially less well” than similar countries on …

Alarm raised over ‘worsening’ access to vital NHS care as improvement remains a challenge
1 year, 9 months ago

Alarm raised over ‘worsening’ access to vital NHS care as improvement remains a challenge

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England need to wake up …

NHS in ‘endless hamster wheel’ due to PM’s focus on waiting lists – NHS leader
1 year, 10 months ago

NHS in ‘endless hamster wheel’ due to PM’s focus on waiting lists – NHS leader

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Prime Minister’s focus on cutting waiting lists means the …

Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts
2 years, 1 month ago

Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Suicidal NHS staff will be left in “dangerous” situations without support …

NHS ‘under threat’ from ‘covert privatisation’, says Stephen Fry
2 years, 1 month ago

NHS ‘under threat’ from ‘covert privatisation’, says Stephen Fry

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Use private sector to tackle NHS waiting lists, urges Keir Starmer
2 years, 2 months ago

Use private sector to tackle NHS waiting lists, urges Keir Starmer

The Telegraph  

"Labour has a bold plan to slash waiting times by temporarily ramping up partnerships with private providers. My Labour government would give Britain its NHS back, through a decade long programme of renewal and reform, to make the health service fit for the future. In a clear sign that he plans to align himself with the Blair era and reject …

The NHS has been sabotaged – why are we so reluctant to point it out?
2 years, 2 months ago

The NHS has been sabotaged – why are we so reluctant to point it out?

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. They told us that the obvious …

NHS told to ‘turbo-charge’ use of private sector to ease record waiting lists
2 years, 3 months ago

NHS told to ‘turbo-charge’ use of private sector to ease record waiting lists

The Telegraph  

The NHS has been ordered to “turbo-charge” use of the private sector to help clear record waiting lists. A new taskforce, bringing together independent hospital leaders and NHS officials, will examine how to significantly expand use of the private sector and give patients more choice over where they receive treatment. It comes amid record waiting lists, with more than seven …

Mental health care must not be overlooked in our fight to save the NHS
2 years, 3 months ago

Mental health care must not be overlooked in our fight to save the NHS

The Independent  

One of the most alarming of many alarming signs of a dysfunctional nation is that young people seem to be leaving the labour market because of mental illness. It seems as if it were a different country, in a different era, when Theresa May as prime minister promised parity of esteem between mental and physical health services. Just as mental …

NHS situation harder now than during pandemic, health chief warns
2 years, 4 months ago

NHS situation harder now than during pandemic, health chief warns

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The NHS now faces a “harder” situation than it did during …

NHS waiting lists are main reason people use or consider private care – poll
2 years, 6 months ago

NHS waiting lists are main reason people use or consider private care – poll

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Long NHS waiting lists are the most common reason for …

What the NHS really needs is to see the end of privatisation by stealth
2 years, 6 months ago

What the NHS really needs is to see the end of privatisation by stealth

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy I’m a …

Privatising NHS services ‘has led to decline in quality of patient care’
2 years, 8 months ago

Privatising NHS services ‘has led to decline in quality of patient care’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The study, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, examined the impact of the …

NHS pays out £20m in clinical negligence claims over children’s mental health care
2 years, 11 months ago

NHS pays out £20m in clinical negligence claims over children’s mental health care

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The review addresses improvements needed in inpatient and community children’s mental health services and highlights …

Thousands more patients pay for private hospital surgery
3 years, 5 months ago

Thousands more patients pay for private hospital surgery

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. PHIN chief executive Matt James told The Independent it was not possible to know if …

NHS on life support: Up to one in six will be on waiting lists as health service turns to private hospitals
4 years, 7 months ago

NHS on life support: Up to one in six will be on waiting lists as health service turns to private hospitals

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. One hospital chief said: “The outer circle of what we provide is going to shrink.” …

Long NHS waits help drive more patients to pay for private surgery
5 years, 2 months ago

Long NHS waits help drive more patients to pay for private surgery

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Widespread NHS rationing of treatments and record waiting lists have helped deliver a 7.4 per …

Senior doctors accuse Government of deliberately underfunding NHS to accelerate privatisation plans
6 years, 5 months ago

Senior doctors accuse Government of deliberately underfunding NHS to accelerate privatisation plans

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government is deliberately underfunding the NHS in an attempt to …

Does the social care crisis demonstrate the failure of outsourcing public services?
7 years, 1 month ago

Does the social care crisis demonstrate the failure of outsourcing public services?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The home in Widnes, Cheshire, was run by a …

NHS privatisation soars as private companies win 70% of clinical contracts in England
7 years, 2 months ago

NHS privatisation soars as private companies win 70% of clinical contracts in England

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy NHS spending on care provided by private companies has jumped by …

If the Budget fails to make the NHS a priority, the Conservatives will deserve to be punished
7 years, 4 months ago

If the Budget fails to make the NHS a priority, the Conservatives will deserve to be punished

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If the Government does not like …

NHS privatisation exposed: Scale of treatment for paying patients at NHS hospitals revealed
7 years, 5 months ago

NHS privatisation exposed: Scale of treatment for paying patients at NHS hospitals revealed

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Jeremy Corbyn blasts Theresa May's NHS record The Christie Trust said it “does not treat …

NHS England’s plan to introduce hospital referral reviews shows how the service has been reduced to nothing more than a skeleton
7 years, 6 months ago

NHS England’s plan to introduce hospital referral reviews shows how the service has been reduced to nothing more than a skeleton

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy This week …

NHS hospitals hit by crippling rate hikes as private hospitals save millions in 'charitable' tax breaks
7 years, 7 months ago

NHS hospitals hit by crippling rate hikes as private hospitals save millions in 'charitable' tax breaks

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Private hospitals are enjoying a £52m tax break on their business …

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