In Q1 2026, there was a total of 247,495 private healthcare admissions in the UK, up by almost 1,000 from last year’s 246,550 total in Q1 2025, according to data from the Private Healthcare Information Network.
There was a slight decline in insured admissions to 171,000 compared to Q1 2025 – which saw a record quarterly high of 175,000 – but still remains 1,000 higher than the 170,000 admissions in Q1 2024.
By contrast, self-pay admissions, which have remained at a fairly consistent level for the past few years, were up by 6,000 from 71,000 in Q1 25 to their highest ever level of 77,000 in Q1 26.
According to NHS data, in England hospital admissions rose by 11.8 per cent in the same time period, from 3.4 million in Q1 2025 to 3.8 million in Q1 2026.
Brett Hill, head of health and protection at Broadstone, says: “Demand for private healthcare remains strong, with individuals and employers continuing to seek faster access to care as progress on NHS waiting lists remains slow.
“Self-pay admissions have a spiked to a record high after remaining stable for several years, suggesting many people around the country are still finding the NHS cannot deliver the treatment they need, when they need it.”
Hill also suggested that a government reduction on the tax burden on employer-funded health benefits could increase the take-up of such benefits and provide a boost for access to healthcare, improving the health of the UK’s workforce while alleviating pressure on the NHS.
