The Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) has today launched a new report, “Working-together-during-covid19″, demonstrating how the independent sector has been working with the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure that many hundreds of thousands of patients can get access to the treatment they need.

While NHS and independent healthcare providers have been working together to deliver high quality NHS patient care for over 70 years, with the onset of coronavirus earlier this year these partnerships have strengthened and renewed in recent months. Independent providers across the acute, diagnostic, primary and community sectors – including those who had traditionally only delivered privately funded care – have stepped up and supported the NHS to ensure that patient treatment can continue during the pandemic.

This new report, launched in the week of the NHS’ 72^nd birthday, highlights just some of the partnerships between independent and NHS providers, including those of independent hospitals and diagnostics providers whose facilities and workforce have been “block booked” by the NHS during covid19. The partnerships also include those independent primary and community healthcare providers who have stepped up and adapted their services during lockdown to meet the needs of patients.

David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said:

“I’m delighted to be launching our “Working together…during covid19” report during the NHS’ 72^nd birthday week which showcases just some of the many inspiring partnerships between independent and NHS providers during what has undoubtedly been the toughest periods in the health service’s history.

“Staff working in both independent and NHS providers really have gone above and beyond to deliver the best possible care for patients – breaking down traditional organisational boundaries and collaborating in new and innovative ways to – with many hundreds of thousands of patients benefitting from their hard work and dedication.”

“Now that we are, thankfully, beyond the first initial peak of the virus, it’s important to reflect on what these partnerships have achieved and to celebrate the staff working across the public and independent sectors that have sacrificed so much to deliver care for patients during this unprecedented period.