Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework (MPAF) refresh 2026

IHPN is refreshing its Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework (MPAF), a key resource supporting clinical and medical governance and the oversight of medical practitioners in the independent healthcare sector.

First published by IHPN in 2019, the MPAF was developed primarily for independent acute hospitals, while also being relevant to other providers, including diagnostics services. It was designed to support improvement and greater consistency in how medical practitioners are overseen across the sector.

Following an impact review in 2020, the framework was refreshed and relaunched in 2022 to ensure it remained a live and progressive resource. Since then, further developments across the independent sector, the findings from national inquiries, the NHS and the wider regulatory and professional landscape mean the MPAF now needs to be updated again.

This latest refresh has two main objectives: to ensure the framework reflects current best practice and policy, and to re-promote awareness and understanding of the MPAF among providers and key stakeholders across the health system.

The work will be led by Professor Sir Stephen Powis, former NHS National Medical Director (2018–2025), who brings extensive clinical leadership experience from across the health system. He will be supported by a reference group made up of representatives from independent providers, the NHS, Royal Colleges, regulators, patient groups and consultants in private practice.

As part of the refresh, IHPN will consult widely with its membership to ensure the updated framework reflects the experience and expertise of providers across the sector. Subject matter experts will also be involved where needed, and stakeholders will have opportunities to comment on the draft before it is finalised.

The refreshed MPAF is expected to be published in autumn 2026.

MPAF Refresh Reference Group

• Professor Sir Steve Powis – Chair
• Professor Tim Mitchell – President, Royal College of Surgeons
• Dr Toli Onon – Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Care Quality Commission
• Professor Stella Vig – Deputy National Medical Director for Secondary Care and Quality, NHS England
• Dr Sheena Khanduri – Chief Medical Officer, GenesisCare UK
• Jo Wren – Head of GMC London, General Medical Council
• Medhi Erfan – Legal counsel to General Counsel, Circle Health Group
• Dr Matthew Knight – Chief Medical Officer and Responsible Officer, Medefer
• Dr Cliff Bucknall – Chief Medical Officer, HCA Healthcare
• Dr Davina Deniszczyc – Medical Director, Nuffield Health
• Dr Cathy Cale – Group Medical Director & Responsible Officer, Spire Healthcare
• Professor Alf Collins – Trustee, Patients Association
• Thembi Nkala – Chief Nursing Officer, Horder Healthcare
• Jo Dickson – Chief Clinical and Quality Officer, Ramsay Health Care UK
• Sabeen Akhtar – Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Associate Chief Medical Officer, Ramsay Health Care UK
• Peter James – Chief Medical Officer, Circle Health Group
• Sharon Stewart – Director of Clinical Governance and Quality Improvement, Circle Health Group
• Tiina Thornton – Chief Nursing Officer, Cleveland Clinic London
• Alex Chipperfield – Medical Director (and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Benenden Health