Patients Going Private: Is This the Better Way to Healthcare?

NHS waiting times are at an all-time high. Patients referred by their GPs for scans, tests or treatments are being left in the lurch as pressure on practices builds. Some patients have resorted to trying untested home remedies or relying on unwanted pain medication.

So, what can really be done to combat the backlog of patients waiting for crucial treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or mental health care?

Hurry up and wait

It’s sad to say, but long wait times for doctor visits, treatments, and check-ups are so long, it’s hardly newsworthy anymore. So much so that the NHS has written a guide to its own waiting times. It states waiting times for treatments could be a maximum of 4 months, however the guide also states it could be longer if you choose to wait longer — whatever that means.

A survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that 9.7 million people are waiting for treatment, an appointment, or a test. That’s more than 50% higher than the 6.3 million recorded by NHS England.

Research from Healthwatch, a committee of the independent regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC), found that:

• 39% of the 1,084 people had their care postponed or cancelled on two or more occasions, and
• 18% of people had their care cancelled or postponed at the last minute, which the NHS defines as on the day or on arrival to the appointment.

So, not only does the NHS have major delays and unrecorded wait lists, but the patients who do make it to the top of the list get their care cancelled, sometimes even on the day. This leaves patients needing crucial treatment with nowhere to go.

Trying to remedy the situation

When it comes to home remedies, everyone has their own techniques. Things like eating spicy food to cure headaches, securing cabbage leaves to knees overnight to reduce pain and inflammation, and even placing bars of soap under the bed sheets to reduce restless legs.

Although interesting to read, we have no idea if these remedies work. And that’s exactly the issue. All these supposed ‘cures’ are trial and error. They’re referred to as ‘old wives’ tales’ simply because advice has been passed down from generation to generation, with little to no real research.

Should patient health really be subjected to trial and error simply because it’s difficult to get a doctor’s appointment?

Shouldn’t there be an easier way for patients to see a professional?

Care is out there

As you may be aware, private clinics are becoming increasingly accessible in the UK, and research shows a shift in public attitudes towards ‘going private’. The Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) report shows:

• Almost seven in ten of people (67%) say that they would consider using private healthcare
• Unsurprisingly given that NHS waiting lists are at record levels, speedier access to care is the top reason for people choosing to use private healthcare
• Indeed, insurance was a key reason cited for using private healthcare. One in five people (20%) say that they used it because they have private health insurance

So, it seems the demand for private healthcare is alive and well. Patients want to be seen by knowledgeable and qualified practitioners without waiting.

Sounds promising, right? Except now private clinics are in fierce competition with each other.

The struggle is real

Pressure is building. The demand on healthcare businesses to not only attract more clients but to differentiate themselves from other clinics is growing, making it increasingly difficult for clinic owners within the private health sector.

As well as this, healthcare professionals are spending a significant amount of their time on paperwork. In 2022, research from Nuance found that healthcare professionals are spending an average of:

• 13.5 hours per week generating clinical documentation, a 25% increase in the last 7 years
• 3.2 hours per week completing documentation outside of working hours
• With 85% of those surveyed agreeing that clinical documentation is a major contributor to burnout

The demands on healthcare professionals to not only provide quality care to their patients, but to run a business in a competitive age and have time for themselves, is increasing.

Professionals need a better way of working, and they need it now.

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References:

1. The Pharmaceutical Journal (2020). Some patients with chronic pain face waiting years to see a specialist. Available at: https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/some-patients-with-chronic-pain-face-waiting-years-to-see-a-specialist (Accessed: 15 November 2024).
2. NHS (2019). Guide to NHS waiting times in England. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/guide-to-nhs-waiting-times-in-england/ (Accessed: 15 November 2024).
3. ONS (2024). NHS waiting times, 16 January to 15 February 2024. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthcaresystem/datasets/nhswaitingtimes16januaryto15february2024 (Accessed: 15 November 2024).
4. Healthwatch (2021). Waiting lists are inevitable. It's how we manage them that matters. Available at: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2021-11-08/waiting-lists-are-inevitable-its-how-we-manage-them-matters (Accessed: 15 November 2024).
5. Independent Healthcare Providers Network (2024). Going Private 2024. Available at: https://www.ihpn.org.uk/going-private-2024-introduction/ (Accessed: 18 November 2024).
6. Nuance (2023). Assessing the burden of clinical documentation. Available at: https://www.nuance.com/asset/en_uk/collateral/enterprise/report/rpt-assessing-the-burden-of-clinical-documentation-en-uk.pdf (Accessed: 18 November 2024).
7. Nuance (2020). We must work to address the root causes of clinician burnout. Available at: https://whatsnext.nuance.com/en-gb/healthcare-ai-uk/nhs-clinician-burnout/ (Accessed: 18 November 2024).