Why turning to the private sector won’t save the NHS backlog

The government’s record with private care during Covid – and the billions of pounds it wasted – should provide a warning for us now, writes Rebecca Thomas

Patients and their carers will be able to access tailored information ahead of planned surgery through a new platform on the NHS website (PA Media)

As the NHS battles soaring waiting lists for care, both NHS England and the government have made repeated nods towards greater use of private hospitals to tackle the backlog.

Just in the past week reports surfaced over Rishi Sunak’s plans to encourage more patients to use the NHS app to book a private hospital appointment.

Meanwhile, NHS England wrote to healthcare leaders saying the private sector had “stepped up” to help the NHS work through long waiting times and said private healthcare must be included in its recovery plans.