3 mins
Business
A sign of the times - a shift to Private Healthcare?
What’s the issue?
Whether it’s an MRI scan to investigate persistent back pain, or a blood test for cancer marrets, diagnostics form the backbone of early intervention. Delays in diagnosis can lead to worsening conditions, increased anxiety, and prolonged recovery. NHS England stats show that there were 1,614,900 patients waiting for key diagnostic tests in November 2024.[1]
Diagnostic waiting times are part of the NHS Constitution which gives patients the legal right to treatment within 18 weeks of referral. The NHS Constitution pledges that patients should not be required to wait six weeks or more for a diagnostic test.
However, recent data shows that this pledge is not always being met and highlights the challenges within the NHS diagnostic services. As of November 2024, approximately 321,800 patients in England had been waiting six weeks or more for one of the 15 key diagnostic tests, representing 19.9% of the total waiting list. The average waiting time for a diagnostic test was estimated at 2.6 weeks.[2]
Not only are waiting times longer than desired, but the NHS also spent a record £216 million in 2024 outsourcing the interpretation of X-rays and scans to private firms due to a severe shortage of radiologists.[3] Despite this, nearly one million scans were not reviewed within the NHS’s one-month target, impacting timely diagnoses of conditions such as cancer and fractures.
Delays in diagnostics can have profound consequences on patient outcomes. For instance, in 2024, more than 11% of cancer patients in England waited longer than 104 days to start treatment, nearly triple the rate from 2016. Such delays can increase the risk of death by 10% for some cancers. Additionally, the number of patients waiting over 104 days for urgent cancer treatment has nearly quadrupled from 6,000 in 2016, to 22,000 in 2024.[4]
Cut waiting times?
One option to cut waiting times is to book appointments through a private GP, however according to Which?, 10-minute appointments can cost up to £90[5]. If you are looking for a longer appointment, or are wanting a face-to-face consultation in London, these prices can soar upwards of £150.
Private diagnostics offer a direct route to answers and their services aim to bypass NHS waiting times and offer patients rapid access to the answers they need. Private diagnostics fill a critical gap between emergency care and comprehensive insurance.
When people experience unexplained symptoms, waiting weeks to find out what’s wrong can be frustrating and dangerous. This allows people to act immediately, often catching issues earlier, leading to better outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs. According to a 2024 study by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, 67% of people say that they would consider using private healthcare[6].
Stress free path to diagnosis
This is where CignpostMe comes in, a diagnostic insurance product, providing you with a stress-free path to diagnosis. CignpostMe ensures high-quality and speed of access, from on demand GPs and health professionals, through to dedicated claims support to access the benefits of the policy, far quicker than most public or traditional insurance-based systems.
But CignpostMe isn’t just about access; it’s about empowered healthcare. By making available a broad range of diagnostic tests from scans and specialist referrals to a unique wellness focused app with wearable integration, patients gain great control over their health.
CignpostMe offers a hybrid value proposition – speed, simplicity, and quality without the full weight of a traditional insurance model. CignpostMe represents a 60 second shift toward consumer-led healthcare, where patients don’t have to wait, plead, or jump through hoops to get answers. By placing diagnostic control directly in the hands of the individual, Cignpost empowers better, faster, and more confident decisions.
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Individual
Business
We are Cignpost
Introducing Cignpost; redefining insurance for the modern world, with a vision to incorporate health and wellness into insurance. Over the coming days, we’re introducing the leadership team. The thinkers, builders, and innovators who are navigating a new path for insurance — one that prioritises prevention, speed, and real peace of mind.
1 min
Individual
Case study - Francis’ story
Until recently, Francis had a PMI policy, but with costs rising he found he was struggling to pay his premiums and decided to cancel the policy.
Individual
Business
We are Cignpost
Introducing Cignpost; redefining insurance for the modern world, with a vision to incorporate health and wellness into insurance. Over the coming days, we’re introducing the leadership team. The thinkers, builders, and innovators who are navigating a new path for insurance — one that prioritises prevention, speed, and real peace of mind.
1 min
Individual
Case study - Francis’ story
Until recently, Francis had a PMI policy, but with costs rising he found he was struggling to pay his premiums and decided to cancel the policy.