Latest news from LCA...
Office of Fair Trading announce a Market Study
– January 2011
The OFT will be carrying out a Market Study in to various aspects of independent healthcare. A scoping exercise in to the extent of the study was announced for January 2011 and the Study will begin in February. The LCA has made a submission about the study and will be monitoring progress and hopefully supplying further evidence as this matter evolves.
Revalidation Update – Implications in the Independent Sector for Consultant Appraisal
– January 2011
Responsible Officers have now been appointed throughout the UK. In the acute hospital independent sector the Responsible Officers are either the Medical Directors or new appointees. Consultants without any NHS affiliation but private hospital practising privileges will report to the Responsible Officer in the hospital (or group) where they do most work. NHS consultants will report to their Trust Responsible Officer but will be expected to take forward to their appraisal within the Trust all the details of their work in the independent sector.
Independent hospitals will not provide appraisals (except for RMOs and doctors who they employ) and so consultants with practising privileges will need to get their appraisal in an outside approved system. The LCA has run appraisals for many years but some fully independent consultants obtained their appraisal via a “buddy”, a system which will no longer be allowed. The need for a new national scheme of appraisal is thus apparent and the LCA scheme, whilst previously acceptable, must now be upgraded to take in to account Strengthened Medical Appraisal.
The LCA Board of Trustees is now working with FIPO to develop a new structure and to that end the LCA is keen to appoint and train appraisers. Two training sessions have already been held under the auspices of the NHS Revalidation Support Team and more are planned. In addition a Pilot Study of the new appraisal procedure is starting in March/April 2011.
LCA members and others are invited to register as appraisers and also to enter as appraisees in to the Pilot Study. The appraisals carried out in the Pilot Study will incur no charges to the appraisee and will count towards the real process of Revalidation which is scheduled to start in 2012.
Changes in BUPA Insurance recognition for new consultants
– July 2010
BUPA Insurance have announced a change in recognition of new consultants.
Insurers Maintain Pressure on Consultants
– May 2010
AXA PPP have written to many senior consultants asking them to adhere to a fixed fee schedule which is the same as that imposed on newly appointed consultants in 2008. Those failing to acquiesce to AXA PPPs request have been told that their patients may be referred elsewhere when seeking preauthorisation from the insurer. The LCA has repeatedly opposed these restrictive actions of the insurers and do not believe that this PPP strategy is in the best interests of the patient. The LCA is actively supporting FIPO in its attempts to reverse this process. More details can be seen on the FIPO website.
A Press Release from HMRC over Non-Compliant Consultants
– January 2010
In January 2010 HMRC announced a plan to engage with doctors and dentists over tax compliance. Following this in June 2010 HMRC had further discussions with the profession, including the London Consultants’ Association to announce that they had clawed back around £9 Million from doctors and dentists. Details of the numbers of professionals involved were not made clear. All consultants should seek advice from their accountants about tax issues.
BMI & Nuffield Health cut radiologists fees
– February 2009
BMI and Nuffield hospitals have simultaneously announced a cut back in radiologists fees…
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Doctors and Fraud...
- August 2008
More allegations against consultants and the creation of a database for private medical insurers are discussed... here...
Tax on Cars for Independent Practitioners
July 2008
There has been a recent question raised by the Inland Revenue in Scotland about consultants who claim part or all of their car expenses against their private practice. There have been suggestions that the revenue might wish to recoup these tax allowances retrospectively. This matter is being dealt with by a small group of medical accountants, the HCSA and the Chairman of the LCA. Further reports will be forthcoming.
Changes at BUPA
July 2008
Dr Natalie J Macdonald assumes a new role at BUPA Insurance as Managing Director of BUPA’s UK Membership Business. For more information click here:
Healthcare Commission - New regulatory Fees and Consultation over the future of Independent Healthcare
April 2008
The Healthcare Commission has written to us about their new charges and has also invited comments about the future regulation of the independent sector. Please go to the members’ area for a recent update and briefing.
BUPA and AXA/PPP Networks in Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics
- Updated April 2008
The AXA/PPP ophthalmic network is floundering in the London as very few small hospitals are currently recognised and all major independents, including Moorfields’ private wing, are not recognised. This has caused considerable distress to patients and consultants alike. It is hoped that AXA/PPP will soon be negotiating further packages with hospitals, but, at the moment, there has been no direct approach to consultants.
The BUPA network for ophthalmology has largely folded, but BUPA are now approaching groups of orthopaedic surgeons to try and set up local arrangements with specific care plans. Details of this are unclear”.
Your Views
If you have any views or questions on the issues related here or anything else please send them through to our offices by clicking here. We will treat all submissions in confidence if requested.
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