| At a glance: Scotland recorded 13,385 private admissions in Q1 2026. This was 1.3% lower than Q1 2025. Insured admissions fell by 7.1%, while self-pay admissions rose by 6.6%. |
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In the latest of our quarterly updates, we use our unique national dataset to provide a summary of the key trends in the independent healthcare sector, covering data up to and including Q1 2026.
Key findings
- Total activity: 13,385 admissions, down 170 year on year and the lowest quarterly level since Q4 2024.
- Funding: insurance remained the larger payment method, accounting for 54% of admissions, compared with 46% self-pay.
- Self-pay: admissions reached a record Q1 total of 6,205, an increase of 385.
- Consultants: 513 consultants were active, 7 fewer than in Q1 2025 and the lowest quarterly total since Q3 2024.
Figure 1. Private admissions by quarter in Scotland
Figures shown in the chart are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
Admissions remained high, but insured activity fell
Scotland recorded 13,385 admissions in Q1 2026, down 1.3% from Q1 2025. Across the UK, admissions rose in England by 0.9% and fell in Wales by 4.7% and Northern Ireland by 8.0%.
Different trends by payment method
- Insured admissions: down 7.1% from the record Q1 level recorded in 2025.
- Self-pay admissions: up 6.6% to 6,205, the highest Q1 total recorded.
- Payment mix: 54% insured and 46% self-pay.
Figure 2. Payment method breakdown in Scotland
| Context: UK self-pay admissions increased by 7.7% compared with Q1 2025. Scotland increased by 6.6%, Northern Ireland by 4.2% and England by 9.5%; Wales fell by 13.3%. UK insured admissions decreased by 2.6%. Northern Ireland decreased by 16.4%, Scotland by 7.1% and England by 2.2%. Wales was the only UK nation to have an increase (6.3%). |
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Five of the 10 highest-volume procedures declined
Comparing Q1 2025 with Q1 2026, admissions fell for five of Scotland’s 10 highest-volume procedures.
- Largest increase: Cataract surgery rose by 2,580 admissions, or 12.8%.
- Largest decrease: Diagnostic colonoscopy fell by 340 admissions, or 3.4%.
- Outside the top 10: Eyelid lift - blepharoplasty increased by 700 admissions, or 43% and Gallbladder surgery by 660 admissions, or 25%.
- Notable decline: Dupuytren’s contracture surgery (to make bent fingers straighter) fell by 55 admissions, a 55% reduction.
Figure 3. Admissions for the 10 highest-volume procedures in Scotland
Slight fall in number of active consultants
There were 513 active consultants in Q1 2026, 1% fewer than in Q1 2025. General surgery and Ophthalmology were the only named top specialties to record increases; the others declined or were unchanged.
Figure 4. Active consultants in Scotland by quarter
Patient profile
- Age: patients aged 50 to 59 accounted for the most admissions, at 2,655, although this was 40 fewer than a year earlier.
- Older age groups: every age group aged 40 and over recorded a decline, except for 80 to 89; the largest was among 60 to 69-year-olds, down 150.
- Younger age groups: admissions increased for people aged 10 to 19, 20 to 29 and 30 to 39.
- Sex and funding: insured admissions fell by 10.3% for females and 4.2% for males; self-pay rose by 6.5% and 3.6% respectively.
Figure 5. Change in admissions by payment method and sex
Important notes
- PHIN’s national dataset covers inpatient and day-case discharge activity. It excludes activity outside PHIN’s mandate under the Competition and Markets Authority Order, including outpatient diagnostics, physiotherapy and mental health services.
- Data is collected, validated and processed before publication. This can create a time lag of up to six months after treatment.
- Late hospital submissions are added to future updates, so figures can change. Use the latest published update.
- Activity numbers are rounded to the nearest five. Percentages are calculated from unrounded figures.
- For historical data before 2023, contact PHIN.
| Scope: private healthcare inpatient and day-case admissions in Scotland, with comparison between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026. Q1 covers January to March. |
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