New research from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) published today shows that although NHS waiting lists/NHS treatment unavailable (71%) are the main influences for people who have received treatment from a private healthcare service in past three years (or would consider doing so in next three years), choice is also important. Respondents listed greater flexibility (40%), better facilities (35%), and the availability of different treatment options (31%) among the ‘choice-led’ factors contributing to growth in the sector.

The importance of choice is further demonstrated when considering that 89% of our survey respondents wanted to have limited (27%) or complete choice (62%) about their private treatment.

Commenting on the launch of the new report ‘Patient priorities’, Dr Ian Gargan, PHIN’s Chief Executive, said: “PHIN exists to help inform patients’ private healthcare decisions, by providing patients with ‘easily comparable information on the quality and costs of private healthcare services.’ With this important research, we have striven to better understand patients’ healthcare journeys, information needs and priorities, expectations and experiences, so that we can better deliver for them through our website, www.phin.org.uk.

“We’ve reported record levels of private admissions in the past two years. While this has primarily been driven by the NHS waiting lists, there has always been a demand for private healthcare. This new research confirms our view that greater choice is the most significant, non-waiting list related, reason for that.”

Dr Gargan added “Although cost can be a barrier to using the private sector, some of our focus group participants were surprised that it was not as expensive as initially thought. They wanted more guidance on base prices and factors that might affect the full cost, which could allow them to make more informed decisions weighing up the health cost against the financial cost.

“We are the independent, government mandated, not-for-profit, organisation that brings transparency to the sector. This research helps us to do just that, and contains recommendations for patients, consultants, hospitals and private medical insurers. By all working together we can continue to get the best results for patients.”

The research included a website survey answered by 10,000 people, qualitative focus groups with a total of 41 participants, and a representative quantitative survey run by YouGov with 2,036 respondents, aged 18+ in the UK.

The report is available on the PHIN website (link below).