In the latest of our quarterly updates, we use our unique, national dataset to provide a comprehensive view of the key trends in the independent healthcare sector in Northern Ireland up to, and including, the end of 2024.
Private healthcare sector market activity
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At a glance
Changes from 2023 to 2024 in Northern Ireland:
- Reported private hospital/clinic admissions were up 12%.
- Private medical insurance admissions were up 29% to new record level.
- Self-pay admissions were down 7% but still at second highest annual total.
- Fourth consecutive year of growth in total and insured admissions.
Changes from 2019 (pre-pandemic) to 2024 in Northern Ireland:
- Private admissions up 267%.
- Insured admissions up 333% and self-pay up 198%.
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Record independent healthcare in-patient admissions in 2024
The total number of admissions in 2024 was 24,000 (12% above 2023) meaning the private sector had more admissions than in any previous year on record for the fourth year in a row.
The first three quarters (January to September) of 2024 had a record number of admissions compared to the equivalent quarters in previous years. The Q4 (October to December) figures were only 1% less than Q4 2023.
The 12% increase in admissions in Northern Ireland was the highest percentage increase of any nation. Admissions in Wales (+1,900) and Scotland (+2,700) both increased by 6% and in England there was a 3% increase.
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Private medical insurance funded admissions driving growth, but self-pay funded admissions still high
Insured admissions
Admissions funded by private medical insurance were higher in every quarter than in any previous period, leading to a record annual figure.
There were 3,000 more insured admissions than in 2023 (29% increase).
Northern Ireland’s percentage increase was the largest of any nation or English region. The biggest rises for insured admissions in England came in the East Midlands (9%) and London (8%).
Northern Ireland (3,200) also had the second largest rise by volume after London (18,300) and ahead of the East of England (3,000).
Self-pay admissions
Self-pay admissions in 2024 were down by 1,000 (-7%) compared to 2023. After a record high in Q4 2023, there was a consistent decrease in every quarter of 2024. 2024 was still the second highest year for self-pay funded admissions in Northern Ireland (after 2023). Admissions were 123% above the next highest year (2021).
Self-pay admissions are down across most of the UK, with only London and Wales bucking the trend with increases.
The proportion of admissions funded by insurance or self-pay has varied over the years, but 2024 was the second lowest for self-pay.
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Top 10 procedures Northern Ireland
The number of admissions increased in each of the Top 10 most popular procedures. ‘Cataract surgery’ is the most popular procedure by volume of admissions. There was an increase of 1,620 to 4,925 in the number of ‘Cataract surgery’ admissions due to improvement in clinical coding by Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast.
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Active consultants in private healthcare by year
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The number of consultants active in private healthcare regularly fluctuates as new consultants start working in the private sector, and existing ones go on sabbatical, stop working privately, or retire. The number of active consultants in Northern Ireland in 2024 has increased slightly over the past three years and 2024 was at the highest level ever recorded.
The largest volume and percentage increase in active consultants in the top 10 procedure groups in 2024 was in ‘Ophthalmology’ with an extra seven consultants (32%). There were 26 consultants working in this specialty in Northern Ireland. This is just over 10% of the total consultants working in the private sector in Northern Ireland.
‘Trauma and orthopaedics’ had the next biggest increase with an extra four consultants (7%). It also has the highest number of consultants (55) of all specialties.
More than half (154) of consultants in Northern Ireland specialise in one of the Top 10 procedure groups.
Patient demographics
Payment method
There was an increased number of insured admissions for both sexes in 2024 compared to 2023. Female insured funded admissions increased 29% and male admissions 28%.
Female self-pay funded admissions fell 4% and male admissions were down 12%.
Volume of admissions by age
There was an increase in admissions in all age groups from 10 to 99 in 2024 compared to the previous year. The largest volume increase was in the 70 to 79 age group (850) followed by the 80 to 89 age group (535). The latter group also had the largest percentage increase (23%) of all the age groups.
The 0-9 age group had a small (1%) decrease.
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Important notes
All data described above taken from PHIN’s unique, national private dataset describing discharge activity (day case and inpatient). This excludes activity outside of PHIN’s mandate from the Competition and Markets Authority, such as outpatient diagnostics, physiotherapy and mental health services.
There is a time lag between collecting, validating and processing the data we receive from hospitals before we can publish it. This can be up to 6 months after treatment has been completed, to ensure a fair process and accurate data.
Activity numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5, with percentage based on the unrounded figures.
