Evidence of a generational shift in attitudes and usage

Our findings from 2023 – that there is evidence of a generational shift in attitudes towards private healthcare, in terms of general support, tendency or willingness to use, or having already used private healthcare – is again evident in this year’s survey.

Younger people (between 18 and 34 years of age) are generally more:

• positive about the private sector
• willing to consider using it
• likely to have used the sector
• likely to have accessed private GP services

Overall, 27% of those who have used private healthcare said they had used it for an appointment with a private GP (up slightly from last year). This rate increased even more dramatically in the younger age groups. In 2024, more than half (54%) of all 18 to 24-year-olds who had used private healthcare had accessed GP appointments privately, with the rate of usage dropping off as the age of respondents goes up – with 10% of those aged 65 or more having used private GPs.

As noted last year, it seems clear that younger and older people are using the private healthcare system for different things – and it is possible that the strong digital presence of GP services is driving engagement among younger people.