Who’s using private healthcare in the UK?
Amid recent struggles the UK government pledged a multibillion-pound boost to NHS spending over the next three years — while tightening budgets elsewhere. Two years ago, around a quarter of Britons reported having access to private healthcare, how has that changed today? YouGov Profiles data reveals how access has shifted, who is turning to private care, and what treatments they’re seeking.
Most private healthcare access comes through employers — but age matters
Among Britons who have access to private healthcare, more than half (53%) receive it through their own employer’s or work benefits. This is especially prevalent among those aged 35–54, where two-thirds or more cite employer-provided coverage (67% of 35–44-year-olds and 69% of 45–54-year-olds).
Younger adults aged 18–24 are less likely to have private healthcare through their own job (44%) but are more likely to be covered by a family member’s employer (33%) or a family or household policy (27%). Just 5% of this group say they have their own individual policy, compared to 44% of those aged 55+.
Do Britons use private services for GP visits or more complex care?
When looking at usage patterns over the past 12 months, one-third (32%) of private healthcare users say they visited a dentist privately — the most common service cited. One in five (21%) had a private GP consultation, while 15% accessed in-patient or day-patient treatment such as hospital stays or diagnostic tests.
Physiotherapy (14%) and mental health treatment (10%) also appear within the top services used, suggesting that for some, private healthcare is helping to fill gaps in access or reduce waiting times for physical and psychological care.
Less commonly used services include private cancer screenings or treatments (2%), fertility treatment (3%), and cosmetic surgeries (2%). Only 1% of private healthcare users report accessing care for pregnancy complications or undergoing weight loss surgery.
As government spending priorities shift, YouGov Profiles data reveals that private healthcare access in the UK is largely dependent on age, employment status, and family ties. While dental and GP services are the most commonly used, a substantial portion of users are also turning to private care for physiotherapy, mental health, and hospital-based treatments. With the NHS facing long-term funding pressures despite this new investment, these patterns may continue to shape how Britons manage their health needs in the years ahead.
Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for Great Britain is nationally representative of the population and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles.
Image: Getty Images