Trend Healthcare strain expanding private care and waiting time gaps

Summary

The report explains that population ageing and a rise in major illnesses are straining health services, especially for older adults and people with chronic conditions. This extra demand could fuel growth in private healthcare. The report expects that this may open up significant differences in waiting times between NHS treatment and private treatment. It judges that such a trend could further worsen the health vulnerabilities of older and disabled people. It also observes that regional disparities add to the difficulties of vulnerable groups, as urban and rural communities face different barriers to healthcare, education and employment, and it argues that closing such gaps improves both social equality and resilience to crises.