A recent report by leading health analysts has revealed that money spent on private healthcare has fallen by over 10%

Unfortunately for the industry, experts believe that this downturn may just be the sign of things to come as the recession tightens its grip on the country.

The problem is exasperated due to the improving public image of the NHS, resulting in many deciding to chance their arm with the longstanding institution.

Ben Bradshaw, the Health Minister, said: "It is a mark of the faith that people now have in the NHS that 10 per cent fewer patients chose to pay out of their own pockets to go private last year - the first fall for 20 years. These figures show that patients are voting with their feet. More and more people are turning their backs on paying out of their own pockets for private health care because they now trust the NHS to treat them quickly, effectively and comfortably.