Introduction

David Hare, Chief Executive, IHPN

I am delighted to launch our fifth annual IHPN Industry Barometer: State of the Sector report, which provides a snapshot of how senior leaders across the independent healthcare sector feel about all their key markets and the issues affecting their business.

Over 50 of our members who deliver a range of services from acute, diagnostic, primary and community to cancer care and insourcing, responded to our survey – providing a rich set of data and insights about both the private and NHS markets and prospects for the future.

Whilst overall there’s much positivity around all the their key markets, it’s clear the operating environment that independent providers are working in is a challenging one, particularly with budget cuts to local NHS systems, as well as the changing regulatory landscape.

What comes across in the survey though is the clear desire for the sector to meet the needs of growing numbers of both NHS and private patients, including through taking proactive steps to “grow their own” workforce and increase training and development opportunities for their clinicians.

We have been fortunate to have once again worked in partnership on the Industry Barometer with Practicus, whose purpose is to help organisations and people navigate change.

Thank you again to all our members who contributed to the survey, and I hope that you find the results interesting.