“Use Private Healthcare to Solve NHS Emergency”, Says Think Tank
Cardiff, 04/02/2025 – A new report from policy think tank Prydain has called for the increased use of private healthcare to alleviate the worsening “health emergency” in NHS Wales. The report, titled Performing Major Surgery, highlights that the NHS in Wales is under unprecedented strain due to an ageing population, rising disease prevalence, and record-high waiting times exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the Welsh Government’s £11 billion health and social care budget, NHS Wales continues to struggle with performance metrics that lag behind other UK nations. According to Prydain, incremental reforms have failed, and the healthcare system requires a fundamental reset to recover and refocus on long-term sustainability.
Key Recommendations:
- Immediate Access to Private Healthcare for Long-Wait Patients – Patients waiting over two years for treatment, as well as those with life-threatening conditions exceeding key treatment benchmarks, should be offered private healthcare at no cost.
- Cross-Border Commissioning of Services – NHS Wales should work with NHS England to provide urgent treatments for Welsh patients stuck on long waiting lists.
- Private Sector Partnerships to Reduce Backlogs – The Welsh Government should invite private sector providers to bid for contracts to clear patient backlogs, ensuring fair competition and cost-effective solutions.
- Reforming Emergency Department Triage – More efficient triage processes, including the employment of additional bank nurses, will help redirect non-urgent cases away from emergency care and reduce pressure on hospitals.
- Expanding GP Capacity Through Private Partnerships – Contracting non-NHS GPs, expanding pharmacy-led care, and deploying additional private sector clinicians will improve access to primary care services and ease the burden on hospitals.
- Establishment of an NHS Volunteer Service – Mobilising volunteers to assist with administrative and service functions would support NHS recovery efforts.
- Reallocation of Resources – The think tank calls for a minimum of £500 million to be dedicated to these reforms, highlighting that treating patients promptly will generate long-term cost savings and improve health outcomes.
The report argues that opposition to private sector involvement in the NHS is misguided, as private companies already manufacture drugs, provide general practice services, and supply critical medical equipment. Expanding this role temporarily is a pragmatic response to the crisis, not a fundamental shift away from a publicly funded NHS.
Prydain also calls for an urgent conversation between the Welsh and UK Governments to discuss additional funding and resource-sharing measures. The report suggests that the Welsh Government must overcome ideological resistance and embrace solutions that will deliver immediate improvements to patient care.
A Health Emergency Demanding Immediate Action
The NHS in Wales is at a crossroads, and without decisive action, the system risks further deterioration. Prydain warns that unless these recommendations are implemented, the backlog crisis will deepen, and patient outcomes will continue to suffer.
“The NHS was never designed to do everything, and it cannot do everything,” the report states. “We must take bold steps now to ensure it can continue providing care for future generations.”
For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:
Charlie Evans, Report Author
Managing and Communications Director, Prydain
Email: prydaincentre@gmail.com
ENDS