The NHS remains the backbone of UK healthcare, treating millions of people every day. But growing waiting lists, restricted access to some treatments and rising demand are changing how people think about getting seen — and prompting more of us to look at what else is available alongside NHS care.
Research from Ipsos, published as The Private Health Shift, points to a real but uneven move towards private healthcare. For most people this is not a decision to abandon the NHS. It is about having a second route available.
Speed is the main driver
When you are worried about a symptom, waiting for an appointment or a diagnosis is hard. Private care can mean quicker access to consultations, scans and eligible treatment, though what you can access depends on the provider and, if you are insured, the terms of your policy.
Ipsos cites Nuffield Trust findings that the number of people funding their own hospital care rose by 30%across the UK between 2019 and 2024. Even so, this is not a wholesale shift:47% of the public remain unlikely to use private healthcare by any route. What is growing is the group who turn to it selectively, where they see a clear personal benefit.
Growth is concentrated in specific treatments
People tend to consider paying when three things line up: NHS access is delayed or restricted, the treatment matters to their quality of life, and the benefit of being seen sooner is easy to grasp.
Weight-management medication shows this clearly. NHS access to GLP-1 treatments is limited by eligibility criteria, local availability and budgets, and a substantial private market has filled the gap — Ipsos estimates 1.5 million people in the UK were using weight-loss injections in March 2025, with over 90% paying privately. Insurance does not automatically cover these medicines, and cover varies widely between insurers.
Diagnostics tell a different story. Most cancer treatment still happens within the NHS, but concerns about waiting times are leading some people to pay for scans and specialist tests —more than 1.1 million private diagnostic tests were carried out in 2024, with some clinics offering appointments within a day or two. Many patients then return to the NHS for treatment, creating a combined pathway rather than a clean split between the two systems.
Where insurance fits in
Paying out of pocket for a single appointment may be manageable; extended treatment is a different matter. Depending on the insurer, policy and level of cover, benefits may include:
• Faster access to eligible consultations and diagnostic tests
• A choice of specialist or private hospital
• Cover for eligible surgery and hospital treatment
• Services such as virtual GP appointments or mental health support
Policies differ considerably. Excesses, hospital lists, benefit limits and rules on pre-existing conditions all shape what an insurer will pay for, and areas such as long-term condition management, maternity and weight-loss medication are often excluded as standard. Comparing the detail matters far more than comparing the premium.
More routes, not fewer
Insurance cannot promise that everything will be covered or that every delay disappears, but it can offer an additional route to eligible treatment and more choice when something goes wrong. The likely direction is a more flexible landscape, with people drawing on NHS services, insurance and self-funded care in different combinations. The positive story is not one system growing at another’s expense — it is simply having more options.
If you are weighing up private health insurance, a specialist broker can help you compare cover and find a policy that fits your health priorities and your budget.
Source: Ipsos, The Private Health Shift: How is the rise of private healthcare shaping the UK market?, March 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is private healthcare actually faster than the NHS?
It often is for consultations and diagnostics — some private clinics offer scan appointments within one or two days, and more than 1.1 million private diagnostic tests were carried out in the UK during 2024. Speed depends on the provider, the treatment and, if you are insured, the terms of your policy.
Does private health insurance cover weight-loss medication?
Not automatically. Cover for GLP-1 weight-management medicines varies considerably between insurers, and many policies exclude them as standard — which is why over 90% of the estimated 1.5 million UK users were paying privately in March 2025. Some providers are starting to offer related discounts or support programmes, so it is worth checking the policy detail.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Generally not. Most insurers either exclude them outright or apply a moratorium, where a condition may become eligible if you go a set period without symptoms, treatment or advice. Rules differ significantly between providers, so declare your history accurately and check how each insurer handles it.