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Written question asked by Blake Stephenson (Conservative) on Friday, 5 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 September 2025. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Monday, 15 September 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Health Services: Private Sector

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the percentage of NHS services provided by private healthcare providers (a) on 6 September 2025 and (b) at the end of the 10 Year Health Plan period.

Answer

The 10-Year Health Plan builds on the Elective Reform Plan and the Independent Sector Partnership Agreement, published in January 2025. It reinforces the commitment to use available capacity in the independent sector to treat National Health Service patients, driving choice and empowerment for more patients, and further commits enter discussions to expand NHS provision in the most disadvantaged areas to tackle health inequalities.

The overall proportion of health spending on independent sector providers has not increased significantly over recent years. In 2013/14, 6.1% or £6.5 billion of total health spending was spent on purchase of healthcare from independent sector providers. In 2023/24, this was 6.8% or £12.4 billion. No estimate has been made of the percentage of NHS services provided by independent sector providers or private companies on 6 September 2025. In the recently published data for NHS elective care activity, covering activity in June 2025, independent sector providers delivered 8% of activity.

No forecasting has been undertaken of the expected volumes of activity undertaken by independent sector providers or private companies at the end of the 10-Year Health Plan period.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
75406
Session
2024-26
Related items
Deposited Paper DEP2025-0460
Monday, 7 July 2025
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Subjects
Health services Private sector
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk