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+--- Thread: Up to 2 million Brits gave up on NHS and went private during Covid (/thread-11833.html)
Up to 2 million Brits gave up on NHS and went private during Covid - C C - Mar 2, 2022
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10564131/Up-2million-Brits-gave-NHS-went-private-Covid-report-warns.html
KEY POINTS: Poll of 3,500 adults suggested 12% used private healthcare instead of the NHS. Long waiting times waiting times drove people to switch, IPPR thinktank says. Over two million adults have waited more than 18 weeks for surgery in England.
INTRO: Millions of adults have switched to private healthcare during the Covid pandemic because of difficulty accessing the NHS, a report has claimed. Polling by the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank suggests that 16million struggled getting health service appointments.
The survey of nearly 3,500 adults suggested one in eight of those — the equivalent of 2million adults — opted to go private instead. Long waiting times waiting times exacerbated by the pandemic were one of the key drivers behind the switch, the report said.
The thinktank warned the UK risks embedding a two-tier health system where those who can afford to will pay for private insurance, health tourism, direct payments and 'waiting list fast passes'. It means that millions of others will be left to 'put up or shut up'.
Currently 6.1million people in England are on NHS waiting lists for routine treatment such as hip and knee replacements. Official health service forecasts estimate the queue, already at a record-high, could peak as high as 10.7million by March 2024.
Sajid Javid last month unveiled his plan to tackle NHS backlogs as Britain moves out the pandemic, although it was slammed by MPs on either side of the Commons for 'not being ambitious enough'.
The Health Secretary has promised to make 'greater use' in the coming years of the private sector in the coming years — despite the industry publicly criticising the NHS for failing to take advantage of its willingness to help... (MORE - details, graphs)