Almost 600 patients were urgently transferred to receive emergency care and 340 died following treatment at private hospitals in the year up to June 2021, according to data from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN). It is the first time the figures have been published.
The data reveals 583 patients were urgently transferred to receive emergency care following complications during treatment at independent hospitals and NHS private patient units.
It covers a period in which 577,800 people across the UK received private healthcare treatment and equates to a rate of one in every 1,000 (0.1%) patients treated.
Urgent transfers for emergency care were most common in independent hospitals in England – occurring 518 times. Additionally 10 patients were transferred from private patient wards at English NHS hospitals to another facility. There were 28 instances of this happening in Scotland and 27 in Wales, all from independent hospitals.
PHIN’s data also shows 340 (0.058%) private patients died over the same 12 month period to June 2021.
Most patients that died (304) were treated at independent hospitals in England. A further 32 private patients died following private treatment in NHS hospitals in England. The remaining deaths occurred in Scotland (2) and Wales (2), both at independent hospitals.
This figure covers all mortalities – including patients that died during treatment for cancer and or terminal care.
A further 644 patients had to be returned to theatre across the UK following complications in their treatment while 975 were readmitted to a hospital for emergency care related to their private treatment.
Commenting on the data, Matt James, chief executive of PHIN, said: “We have published this information to help patients get a clearer understanding of safety and risk when receiving private treatment at independent hospitals and NHS private patient units.
“The rate of these events is relatively small, and the majority will inevitably happen in more complex cases, but it is still important to know that these are possible outcomes of treatment.
“If you are considering private treatment, you have the right to research your care providers – you have to be comfortable that they are the best fit. There is information and advice on our website to help inform your conversations with your hospitals and consultant.”
