The survey of nearly 2,600 people in England found 16% of people had used the private sector in the past year, up from 9% two years previously. It found 35% of those with incomes over £80,000 had gone private in the past year, compared to 10% of those on under £20,000. The 51-year-old eventually opted for the private sector when changes in her husband's work health insurance policy meant she was covered and could afford the £20,000 treatment. " Healthwatch England, which also analysed 390,000 pieces of feedback from the public over the past three years to draw up its conclusions, said the government had to do more to improve waiting times. Figures from the Private Healthcare Information Network show nearly 950,000 operations and treatments were carried out in the private sector last year in the UK. While the NHS works towards a six-week target for tests and scans, in the private sector they can be arranged in as little as 48 hours.