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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Gregory Health editor

Soaring private healthcare use piling pressure on NHS GPs, survey finds

A GP at their desk
One doctor said NHS general practice is ‘subsidising lucrative private practice that is charging patients extortionate fees’. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Soaring use of private healthcare for tests and treatments is piling pressure on overstretched GP surgeries, with family doctors warning that standard NHS care is being squeezed as a result.

Record numbers of people are paying for private healthcare, with some having procedures such as cataract surgery and hip replacements, amid mounting frustration at NHS hospital waiting lists. Others are opting for private health checks, genetic testing or cosmetic surgery such as liposuction.

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