New research undertaken for the Adam Smith Institute has vastly underestimated the size of the self...
New research undertaken for the Adam Smith Institute has vastly underestimated the size of the self-pay market, writes Paul Robinson. A survey of 400 GPs, conducted for the Institute by the medical portal Medix UK, found more than 100,000 NHS patients paid for treatment themselves last year because of long waiting lists. In total, four out of five GPs polled said they had patients without private medical insurance (PMI) cover paying for surgery.
However, figures from the Independent Healthcare Association (IHA), which represents 95% of all UK private hospitals, suggest 100,000 is a major under-estimate.
Peter Fermoy, communications manager of the IHA, said: 'We know from our members that 100,000 was the number of self-paying patients in 1997. Last year, we estimated the number to be between 250,000 and 300,000. I think you have to note that the survey was conducted with GPs. For individuals choosing to self-fund medical treatment there is an option for them to go straight to a consultant for a consultation, or to a private health clinic, and bypass their GP.'
The IHA does not think that a declining NHS service is the only reason for self-pay. Fermoy said: 'It would be foolish to say that anything other than dissatisfaction with the NHS is the prime reason. There will always be people for whom private sector treatment is preferable, as that is what they are used to. There are also people who have PMI, but who find themselves uninsured for a specific procedure.'
The study also found that 40,000 patients were admitted as emergencies because their conditions worsened while they were on the waiting list. PPP healthcare has been studying the market and launched a telephone-based information and guidance service for self-paying individuals last month, called Pay As You Go Healthcare. PPP also markets Healthy Outlook, a 'once for a lifetime high excess'. PPP believes self pay is here to stay. Nye Jones, PPP healthcare's distribution development manager, said: 'Whether the figure is 100 or 250 thousand we know it is a growth sector, and for that reason we put two products out on the market to tap into this area.'
