More Scottish patients turning to private medical care, figures show

Private healthcare in Scotland has reached a new high as more people turn away from the NHS.

Almost 13,200 paid-for visits were made in the first quarter of the year – a five per cent increase on the same period in 2024 and the highest level ever seen with a single quarter.

There was a 12 per cent hike in private healthcare admissions for patients aged 40-49 and 60-69.

The figures come from the Private Healthcare Information Network (Phin), which recorded “significant growth” in both general surgery and gynaecology. The independent organisation is government-mandated and publishes information about the safety, quality and costs of private healthcare. 

It found the number of active consultants in private practice in Scotland has reached almost 510 for the second quarter.

Insurance-funded admissions exceeded 8,000 for the first time and treatments paid-for through this means now account for more than 60 per cent of all private admissions – the highest proportion since the pandemic. In contrast, self-pay admissions declined by two per cent to totalling 5,465 cases.

Richard Wells, director of technology and insights at Phin, said: “The record levels of insurance-funded admissions in Scotland reflect a shift in how patients are preparing for, and accessing, healthcare for themselves and their families. Our data shows that more people than ever before are turning to the independent sector for timely treatment across a range of medical specialties.”