In 2018/19, the Department of Health and Social Care spent around £9.2 billion on private providers of healthcare – 7.3% of their budget for everyday operations. In cash terms, this is a record (when inflation is not accounted for). In real terms, ore was being spent in 2015/16 and 2016/17, but this was only £0.2 billion more. In response to these figures, the Health Foundation and Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) say “While the NHS has always purchased some services from the private sector, the role of the private sector in providing routine community, diagnostics and elective (non-emergency) care was formalised and expanded in the 2000s, and now accounts for a significant share of public spending on health in England.”
Full information in Full Fact, 24 July 2019
