Is the UK NHS Now Going Private?

It might seem like a topic of discussion that’s always been on the agenda: the NHS’s imminent conversion into a libertarian free-for-all, where healthcare is provided only to those who can afford to pay for it.

The truth is that this is politically impossible in the UK. Healthcare in this country, according to both major parties, should be free at the point of use. Despite this, Rishi Sunak has recently announced plans for the NHS to partner more extensively with the private sector, as is common in many European countries. Labour’s shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, appeared to criticise the move for arriving too late.

So, exactly why should the private sector be involved in healthcare at all? What are the arguments against a purely state-run service?

Patient Choice and Quality

Competition, it is argued, drives up the quality of care provided. We see these market forces at work across other sectors. Supermarkets, lawyers, plumbers, schools and driving instructors all compete to provide the best products and services at the best price; why not healthcare providers, too?

Of course, simply leaving everything to the free market isn’t a sensible option. The involvement of the private sector will necessarily mean applying consistent minimum standards for care quality, and ensuring that access to healthcare is kept consistent across both publically and privately-funded providers.

Medical negligence lawyers have a vital role to play in maintaining a consistent standard of care. When care falls below the expected standard, whether the providers are publically or privately owned, a legal remedy will need to be accessible by those affected.

Outsourcing of Services

Another argument is that the NHS isn’t a purely medical organisation. It doesn’t just consist of doctors and nurses: there’s also a vast administrative structure that supports the actual provision of healthcare. Many of these administrative functions are already performed by the private sector elsewhere. If a private company can competently manage a facility, or oversee an administrative department, then there seems no good reason that they can’t be brought in to support the NHS.

Outsourcing confers many benefits. It will make the NHS more flexible and scalable. It will also make it more cost-effective, since private providers have an economic incentive to be efficient.

On the other hand, the incentives of private companies are often misaligned with the interests of the general public, who might have concerns about how these private institutions might be held to account when they get things wrong. Transparency is therefore key to keeping the public onside.

Impact on NHS Identity

The NHS has become a central pillar of the nation’s identity. Many of us have deep sentimental ties to the organisation and can be resistant to radical systemic change. The word ‘privatisation’ is, in some quarters, anathema.

When private sector healthcare goes wrong, it can exacerbate inequalities, promote societal division, and cost more money rather than less. These potential problems will need to be anticipated and dealt with proactively.