Two Lanarkshire MSPs have spoken out following new stats revealed the number of private healthcare admissions in Scotland hit record levels.
Statistics released by the Private Healthcare Information Network (Phin) show about 54,000 admissions to private settings in 2025, an increase of six per cent.
Some 29,470 people were admitted using their private medical insurance, an increase of five per cent.
The number of people paying to go private increased by seven per cent.
Scotland saw the sharpest increase in private healthcare use in the UK, with Wales increasing by 1.8%, England by 0.6% and Northern Ireland reducing by 4.8% between 2024 and 2025.
Cataract surgery was the most popular procedure for those going private, with more than 9,000 people seeking treatment last year, 7,335 of those self-funding their procedures.
Hip replacements, endoscopies, colonoscopies and knee arthroscopy made up the top five procedures.
Central Scotland Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher said: “A record number of Scots are now turning to private healthcare, paying out of their own pockets for routine treatment because of the SNP’s mismanagement of our NHS.
“A multi-million pound delayed discharge backlog is leaving patients who are fit to go home stranded in hospital beds, preventing others from accessing the care they need.
“GP services remain under immense pressure, while the walk-in clinic election gimmick is more focused on winning votes than improving patient outcomes.
“Our NHS should be modern, efficient and local, delivering timely care for everyone, not forcing more people to go private just to receive the treatment they need.”
Fellow Central Scotland MSP, and co-leader of the Scottish Greens, Gillian Mackay added: “Behind the statistics are thousands of personal stories and people forced to make difficult choices.
“Nobody should be forced into costly private sector operations because of waiting lists.
“Our NHS workers are doing a fantastic job every day, but if we are to meaningfully cut waiting lists and ensure people can get appointments when they need them then we need to back them and invest in medical staff.
“In the longer term there is a lot we need to do on prevention and early intervention to support people to live well and do what we can do to reduce future lists.”
Richard Wells, the director of technology and insights at Phin, said: “Private hospital admissions in Scotland continue to increase year-on-year.
“This shows the importance some patients place on the choice offered by the private sector.
“The total number of admissions still represents less than 1% of the population in Scotland, with the majority of people still being treated by the NHS.
“Both private medical insurance and self-pay admissions were at record levels. Our data shows though that there are distinct differences between the type of procedures people have, depending on how it is being funded.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland continues to have a substantially lower rate of take up of private healthcare compared to England.
“It is also important to note that the number of private admissions represents a very small proportion of acute hospital activity carried out by the NHS.
“We are expanding access to the NHS in Scotland – exceeding the target to deliver 150,000 extra appointments and procedures and reducing long waits for new outpatients by 76.5 per cent and inpatient/ day case waits down by 47.4 per cent since July 2025.”
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