The NHS goes private

530,000

Number of surgical procedures carried out on NHS patients in the private sector in 2016

34 percent

Proportion of all NHS- funded hip and knee replacements now being carried out in private hospitals according to healthcare consultancy Candesic

£54

How much more it costs on average to treat an NHS patient at a private hospital, compared with the cost for the same treatment in the NHS

£8.7 billion

Amount the NHS paid the private sector for services last year

28 percent

Proportion of private hospitals’ income that is derived from treating NHS patients (2014 figures)