Figures reveal boom in overseas patients
An 800% increase in the number of non-UK patient admissions for private medical treatment and diagnosis since 2016 has been logged by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN).
There were 10,640 patients admissions reported for non-UK patient in 2023, but the biggest single year-on-year increase (144%) came between 2021 (3,305 admissions) and 2022 (8,075) when travel restrictions were eased following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Private treatment accounted for 20,980 (63%) of elective admissions for non-UK patients, with NHS private patient units 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.
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.
Record-breaking number
Dr Ian Gargan
PHIN chief executive Dr Ian Gargan said: ‘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 value-added benefits.
‘For those travelling for healthcare, this could include spending on hotels, restaurants and retail, for example.’
He said the ‘medical tourism market’ commonly made people think about Brits going abroad for treatment rather than patients travelling to the UK.
But research for PHIN found 86% of respondents who had either had private treatment in the past three years – or would consider it in the next three years – had not thought of going abroad and did or would remain in the UK for diagnosis and treatment.
Cost was a major factor for two-thirds of patients who had considered or travelled for treatment outside the UK.
People mostly travelled for dental treatment and Turkey was the most popular destination.