FIPO

FIPO Christmas Newsletter 2021 I hope that since we last wrote to you from FIPO that your professional life has begun to approach the way things were before the pandemic hit. FIPO have been working hard on your behalf to try to obtain clarity on a number of issues and to highlight problems that we […]

PHIN – fee information FIPO would remind consultants that under the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014 they have an obligation to provide their fee information for publication. PHIN will be providing a series of virtual events to take consultants through their processes. The sessions will focus on: how to log onto the PHIN Portal; the fee submission […]

Healthcode and your data It has come to our attention that the wording of the consent to use of personal data by Healthcode is rather broad:  “We will only use your personal data when law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances: With your consent and please […]

FIPO News Update   IPT – Bupa remote consultations contract Bupa has just released its new contract concerning terms for the billing and delivery of remote consultations, one that consultants are being pressured to agree to. FIPO urges consultants to carefully read all the terms and conditions of this new document before signing. Our Vice-Chairman, […]

Private Practice reopening – 7th September It has been 5 months since the start of COVID-19 lockdown and for 5 months private practice has been held in suspension with many independent practitioners and their employees in financial distress, without work but most importantly and pressing, colossal waiting lists of patients who have not had access […]

“Health insurance ‘worthless if patients can’t access treatment’.” FIPO latest in The Times – Monday 13th July 2020 FIPO’s Chairman, Mr Richard Packard, spoke recently with Mr Andrew Ellson about the underutilisation of beds during this COVID-19 pandemic. Please read further for the full article.   Medical insurance risks becoming worthless because of the difficulties […]

Support to help you manage patients’ expectations during the COVID-19 outbreak FIPO is working with all sectors to support both doctors and patients during this pandemic by keeping them informed with up-to-date information. Please see below a message from Bupa regarding access to care via their online directory, Bupa Finder. MESSAGE FROM DR LUKE JAMES, […]

COVID-19: Considerations for purely private consultants contemplating offers of short-term employment Many consultants have relinquished their private practice during the current emergency to return to support the NHS fulltime. Private providers have entered into contractual relationships with the Treasury whereby their facilities are NHS managed to support the treatment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and to […]

UPDATE: The Paterson Report February 2020 The publication of the Report into the Paterson Inquiry marks an important landmark towards improving patient safety. The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt. Rev’d Graham James, has led a meticulous two-year investigation into the mistreatment by Ian Paterson of NHS (Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust) and private patients, […]

“Insurers overrule consultants on best treatment for patients”, The Times – 18th November 2019 An interview with FIPO Chair, Mr. Richard Packard On the 18th November 2019 FIPO’s Chair, Richard Packard spoke with The Times’ Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Andrew Ellson about the Private Medical Insurers increasing interference with patient choice, referral pathways and relationships with […]