Consultants in independent hospitals treated more insured patients during the first three months of 2022, compared with the same period before the pandemic, according to new billing activity data.

Healthcode, the official clearing organisation for private medical invoices, recorded a rise in the number of unique patients in billing data to 133% of 2019 levels for outpatients and 103% for admitted patients in March 2022. 

Insured activity overall exceeded 2019 levels across all regions and medical specialties in the first quarter of 2022, reflecting the extent of the sector’s turnaround, since the low in May 2020.

The company’s managing director Peter Connor said: ‘Two years after lockdown was first imposed, Healthcode’s latest data shows that independent hospitals are back to doing what they do best: providing high-quality care for patients in need across the UK and relieving the pressure on the healthcare system. 

‘Healthcode operates at the heart of the independent healthcare sector and it has been impressive to see everyone pull together to help the national effort during the pandemic.’

Bouncing back

Activity headlines from Q1 2022

Countries and regions

Hospital billing activity surged ahead of 2019 across all UK countries, particularly in England and Wales which did not dip below pre-pandemic levels at any point. 

In March, volumes were at an all-time high: England (131%); Scotland (119%); Wales (122%) and Northern Ireland (158%).

Activity largely exceeded 2019 levels across England, with London, the North West, East England and the West Midlands recording high volumes throughout the first financial quarter. 

January was quieter in the East Midlands, North-east, South-east, South-west and Yorkshire and the Humber, but levels had bounced back by March, exceeding 2019 by more than 20 percentage points. 

Yorkshire and the Humber saw the biggest turnaround, from 94% of 2019 levels in January to 141% in March.

Top ten hospital specialties 

Activity levels rose above 2019 in all but one of the top hospital specialties. Both pathology/haematology and radiology recorded more than double 2019 volumes in March 2022 (211% and 202% respectively).

Orthopaedics and trauma is still the number-one hospital specialty in terms of billing activity and exceeded its 2019 performance in February (111%) and March (123%). Analysts say the Q1 activity levels suggest the specialty has effectively recovered from the pandemic’s adverse effects. 

Care setting 

Within hospital settings, outpatient activity was quicker to recover after lockdown measures were relaxed and activity has been consistently higher than 2019 levels for some time. Meanwhile, admitted care activity has been edging closer to pre-pandemic levels and by March 2022 was 5% higher than in the same month of 2019.

• See ‘Evidence of private hospital recovery’