NHS delays push patients toward private care, watchdog finds

Healthwatch England warns of a rising two‑tier system as patients increasingly pay for private tests, scans and even treatment to bypass NHS waits. A survey shows 16% used private care in the past year (up from 9%), with wealthier people more likely to pay; many privately funded results then feed back into NHS care, adding to GP workloads. Private providers offer quicker access (some tests in under 48 hours) compared with NHS targets of about 18 weeks for treatment, and about 950,000 private procedures were carried out last year. The watchdog and medical groups urge urgent action to cut waiting times and curb the private‑sector shift, while the government says it is investing and gradually reducing delays.