Although the recent Laing and Buisson survey shows that private medical insurance subscriptions are being maintained this year this is not reflected by the experience of many consultants as many around the UK have noted a decline in their private practice.  Mr Derek Machin (FIPO Board member and...

Although quoted periodically in the national press, the NERA report, which suggested that British Consultants are paid more than their contemporaries aboard, has now been refuted. In a detailed economic analysis produced by the British Medical Association (BMA) Health Policy and Economic Research...

Consultants and others will have noted a series of articles in the Financial Times, the Times and other newspapers which have suggested that the advent of ISTCs and foreign contractors will lead to a collapse of private practice. There seems no doubt that independent practice in the UK may face a...

The announcement by the Nuffield Group that it was changing its position in the market and looking to contract more with the NHS has been followed by other providers. Capio, like the Nuffield, has now signed up for a large orthopaedic contract with the NHS at prices which some other providers bel...

The IHF came into being to replace the old Independent Healthcare Association (IHA) with an inaugural meeting on 17 May 2004. Several industry speakers presented at the meeting and a programme for the organisation was announced. Although some hospital provider groups have not joined (Nuffield and...

The Department of Health (DoH) recently announced that a group of ten ISTCs referred to as the “spine chain” in central and northern England has been awarded to Capio UK the independent group. Mercury, and its parent company Tribal, were awarded only five new ITCs in the South East. There app...

The new NHS tariffs which have set fixed prices for almost 30 surgical procedures have been announced. It would seem that private sector costs for common operations are some 40 % higher. The Times reported a hip replacement costing on average £4,660 in the NHS but £6,848 privately. Leading hosp...

In the light of the BUPA Insurance proposals, FIPO in conjunction with BOA, BASK and BOTA sent out a questionnaire to 1,700 orthopaedic consultants throughout the UK. There was an overwhelming response of 858 consultants representing 50 % of all orthopaedic surgeons. A fuller analysis of the ques...

The IHA comprises several divisions’ namely acute hospitals, long term care and mental healthcare. Founded in its current form in 1991, it was the mouthpiece for the independent hospitals. All the major independent hospital groups supported the IHA financially and met regularly to discuss polic...

The Private Medical Industry (PMI) is going through a major upheaval. The Care Standards Act, accepted and approved by FIPO, will affect the regulation of hospitals and other independent facilities. Private medical insurance is changing with new policies, increasing demands on consultants and pat...