News and media

NAO report demonstrates desperate lack of NHS elective capacity

Date of publication: 22nd Mar 2019

Categories: Latest news

Responding to the NAO’s report on “NHS waiting times for elective and cancer treatment”, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “Today’s NAO report demonstrates once again the desperate lack of elective capacity in the NHS which is forcing patients to wait ever longer for vital treatment such as hip replacements and cataracts. “It’s now been almost three years since the NHS last met its target to treat 92% of elective patients within 18 weeks and...

IHPN responds to NHS England announcement to trial new NHS waiting times targets

Date of publication: 11th Mar 2019

Categories: Latest news

Responding to the publication of NHS England's "Clinically-led review of NHS access standards", David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “It is vital that any future changes to NHS waiting times targets do not dilute patient access to care. The introduction of the 18 week target for elective care was instrumental in cutting waiting times for millions of patients from almost two years to just a matter of weeks. "NHS waiting times targets must be easily...

IHPN welcomes funding commitment for NHS pensions

Date of publication: 7th Mar 2019

Categories: Latest news Media

Commenting on the recent government response to the consultation on changes to the NHS pension scheme, IHPN Chief Executive David Hare said: “We welcome the news that all relevant employers with staff on the NHS pension scheme will receive national funding to cover the increase in employer contributions, including independent, social enterprise and voluntary providers. IHPN members with staff in the NHS pension scheme will be delighted that they now have certainty about this important issue. “This is particularly welcome...

IHPN responds to proposals for legislative change in the NHS

Date of publication: 28th Feb 2019

Categories: Latest news

Responding to NHS England and NHS Improvement’s announcement on proposals for legislative change in the NHS, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “The current legislative arrangements for the NHS are by no means perfect, and we welcome the opportunity to put forward ideas to government on how legislative change could enable an NHS that works better for patients. And today’s document does contain some positive proposals, particularly around strengthening patient choice rights, which for too...

IHPN responds to "scaremongering" Labour party calls on NHS contracts

Date of publication: 19th Feb 2019

Categories: Latest news

Responding to Labour party calls to prevent independent providers from winning NHS contracts, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said: “The NHS is not being privatised and it’s scaremongering to suggest that it is. Nothing is being sold off, and nobody is going to pay for their care. “Awarding contracts allows NHS commissioning organisations (run by GPs) to decide what is best for patients in their local area. These contracts should always be awarded through...

New IHPN Consultant Oversight Framework Expert Reference Group announced

Date of publication: 1st Feb 2019

Categories: Latest news

Following the announcement that former NHS England National Medical Director, Sir Bruce Keogh, will be leading on the development of a Consultant Oversight Framework (COF) for independent acute hospitals to improve the consistency around clinical governance in the sector and raise the bar in medical leadership, IHPN are pleased to confirm that an Expert Reference Group has been set up to help support this work. The External Reference Group is made up of key figures from across the medical profession...

IHPN welcomes new report "kickstarting" awareness of patient choice

Date of publication: 31st Jan 2019

Categories: Latest news

Responding to the publication of NHS England’s report on Universal Personalised Care, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network said: “We warmly welcome today’s report on Universal Personalised Care which rightly aims to make patient centred care “business as usual” in the NHS. “In particular, the commitment to better enable people to exercise choice and control in elective care is hugely welcome at a time when NHS waiting lists for surgery are growing ever longer. “While patients...

IHPN respond to launch of Primary Care Networks

Date of publication: 31st Jan 2019

Categories: Latest news

David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network said: “IHPN welcomes the announcement today of the development of new Primary Care Networks. For too long the primary and community health sector has not had the funding or focus it deserves but these new networks will help foster more joined up working between local services and ensure that patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. “Independent sector providers, including those in the voluntary...

IHPN responds to scrapping of EU settled status fee

Date of publication: 22nd Jan 2019

Categories: Latest news

In response to the Government’s announcement that the planned EU settled status fee is to be scrapped, Sharon Bridgland-Gough, Co-Chair of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network HR Directors Forum said: “We very much welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to waive the planned £65 charge to apply for the settled status fee for EU nationals. “EU staff make a significant contribution to delivering care in the independent health sector and a number of providers have already paid the fee on behalf of...

No. of people waiting over 18 weeks for treatment rises by one third

Date of publication: 10th Jan 2019

Categories: Latest news

In response to NHS England’s latest performance figures showing the number of people waiting longer than the 18 week target for elective care has risen by over one third in the last 12 months to 528,000 patients at the end of November 2018, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network said: “These latest figures demonstrate yet again the desperate lack of elective capacity in the NHS with patients having to wait unacceptably long periods for vital procedures...