Private ops soar as NHS crisis deepens
4905 shelled out over 3 months of 2022.. compared with 2900 in 2019 ‘Two-tier system’ leaving poorer Scots stuck on long waiting lists
A rocketing number of desperate patients are paying for private operations rather than wait in agony for NHS appointments, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
In just three years there has been a 69 per cent increase in the number of people opting to self-fund routine procedures including hip and knee replacements.
Figures show that over three months – April to June 2022 – a shocking 4905 patients shelled out for private operations, compared with just 2900 over the same period in 2019.
The huge increase has led to furious accusations that a funding crisis in the NHS is creating a two- tier health service.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley said: “These figures show very clearly that a two-tier system is in place and is growing as more Scots are forced into private care. Scots who have been languishing on NHS waiting lists for months or years are now being forced out of desperation to spend their life savings or take on debt to end their pain and misery.
“Meanwhile, those who have no access to funds to pay for health care are left behind on growing waiting lists. This is an appalling situation that is only likely to get worse.
“Thee Scottish Government has faiai led to heed al l the warningsngs given over the last decadede and a half. Every plan they have come forwardard with to reduce waitingng times has failed.
“Theyey need to listen to sociall care staff, nurses, doctorsrs and patients who know what is required to addressss the the crisis crisis in our
NHS.” ”
We revealed earlier this month how a mum- of- six claims to have waited more than five years for surgery on an agonising hip and knee condition.
Joan Brown was first referred to a specialist in December 2017 by her GP but is still to get a date for an operation.
The 60-year- old gran is in constant pain from both hips and right knee and has to take morphine every four hours.
She is unable to walk more than a few steps unaided and needsneeds the use of a walking frame
and wheelchair. The Scottish Government said: “We are working with NHS Boards to end long waits, which have been exacerbated by the impact soft he global pandemic.
“This includes targets announced in July to address the backlog of planned care in our NHS and the delivery of the £1billion NHS Recovery Plan to support sustainable improvements and new models of care l ike the National Treatment Centre Programme. “These figures show that the useuseofself-ofselfself-pay admissions in the independent independent sector is aroundaro 16 pper cent higher in EngEnglandgland than in ScotlScotland pep err head of population, popul at anandnd more than 27 per cecentent higher in Wales.”Wale First Minister NicolaNic St Sturgeon t urge on has admit admitted hos hospitals spit al swill have to “prioritise pr ii or it is ea ndp rot protect critical and lifesaving saving care” care in the face of an unprecedented crisis. She admitted hospitals are “almost at full capacity” after under-fire Health Secretary Humza Yousaf claimed that there had been enough planning for the winter months.
Patients are waiting longer than ever for emergency treatment and frontline medics have warned that more than 50 Scots are dying unnecessarily every week because of delays.
Hospitals are also being blighted by about 1700 bedblocking patients who could be discharged but have nowhere to go because there is also a funding crisis in the social care sector.
In an attempt to speed up discharge from hospitals, Sturgeon announced “immediate funding” to pay for beds at care homes.
All of this has been fuelling increased waiting times for routine knee and hip surgeries at a time when doctors, nurses and other NHS staff are also threatening to strike.