New data from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) shows there has been a near 800%[1]  increase in the number of non-UK patient admissions for private medical treatment and diagnosis[2] since 2016. The data shows that there were 10,640 patient admissions reported for non-UK patient in 2023 alone.

The biggest single year-on-year increase (144%) came between 2021 (3,305 admissions) and 2022 (8,075) when travel restrictions had been relaxed after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The private sector accounted for 20,980 (63%) of elective admissions (2016 – 2023) for non-UK patients, with NHS Private Patient Units (PPUs)[3] responsible for the remaining 12,105 (37%).

Patients from countries on the Arabian Peninsula made up 46% of private admissions for patients from outside the UK[4].

The most common treatments to travel for were therapeutic chemotherapy, diagnostic upper GI endoscopy, therapeutic drug therapy and therapeutic intravenous drug infusion. These are also high volume procedures for UK patients using private healthcare.

Dr Ian Gargan, PHIN’s Chief Executive, said: “PHIN works to improve transparency in private healthcare to help patients make more informed decisions about their treatment and so that the sector can improve the services it provides.

“We work with the UK’s 650+ private hospitals, including NHS PPUs, and the data they submit to us appears to show that patients – especially those from the Middle East – increasingly value the private healthcare sector in the UK. More and more are coming each year, leading to a record-breaking number in 2023.

“As well as ensuring these patients receive the care they need, the growing number of international patients allows private providers to maximise capacity, and brings a boost to the UK economy. Studies have shown a significant link between spending on healthcare and wider gross values added benefits.[5] For those travelling for healthcare this could include spending on hotels, restaurants and retail, for example.”

UK patients staying put too

Dr Gargan added: “When we hear about the ‘medical tourism market’, it’s probably more common for us to think about Brits going abroad for treatment, than to think of patients travelling to the UK. However, there is clearly a demand for treatment in the UK.

“In fact, new research we commissioned[6] shows that 86% of respondents who’ve either had private treatment in the past three years (or would consider it in the next three years), have not thought about going abroad and did (or would) remain in the UK for diagnosis and treatment.”

When considering treatment outside the UK, cost came out as the major factor, applicable for two-thirds of the patients who have travelled/are considering travelling outside the UK. The most common reason to travel was for dental treatment and Türkiye was the most popular destination.

Footnotes

1. 798%
2. These are people who have travelled to the UK for planned treatment, or to have treatment while they are visiting for another purpose. This may include: Diagnosis or specialist care (including paediatrics) in a hospital or by a consultant/clinician or monitoring for an existing condition while they are in the UK. It does not include people who have fallen ill while visiting the UK (i.e. on holiday) who require urgent treatment.
3. Beds or wards within NHS Trusts that are set aside to provide treatment for private patients.
4. The specific country of origin of a significant number of patients (39%) was not recorded by the hospital which treated them. They were reported as being non-UK.
5. Analysis by Carnall Farrar, undertaken on behalf of the NHS Confederation, finds that growth in healthcare investment has a clear relationship with economic growth. This analysis has been made possible by bringing together, for the first time, longitudinal data from multiple sources linked at the local level across all of England. This analysis shows that for each £1 spent per head on the NHS, there is a corresponding return on investment of £4.
6. https://www.phin.org.uk/news/patient-priorities-report