SBK NHS Private Patient Service Development event, 2019
Streets Heaver kicked off this season’s events schedule once again with SBK, at their NHS Private Patient Service Development event.
Year-on-year this dedicated forum offers a unique opportunity for NHS Private Patient professionals to come together. Sharing quality information, fresh news and inspiring ideas.
Hosted at the Royal Derby Hospital’s Education Centre, the morning session saw presentations from Jo Johnson (Nash Private Healthcare) and Eileen Scrase (Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital). Both providing practical insights on the good, the bad and the ugly of implementing a PPU. The recurring theme being the importance of buy-in from the parent Trust and addressing the internal culture towards private units.
We were extremely pleased to note the tipping of their hat towards Compucare as their private patient management system of choice too!
After a quick coffee and networking break there were individual presentations from Peter Hill (Competition and Markets Authority) and Jonathan Finney (PHIN) before their joint question and answer session around transparency in fees and data submission. Wrapping up the morning sessions was Dr Magnus Harrison. He discussed how Royal Derby Hospital developed a private patient unit business while facing the cultural challenges of the NHS. Then all delegates were given the opportunity see the high-quality private patient facilities at Royal Derby Hospital and heard examples of best practice from the Derby PPU team.
We’re waiting for Bupa…
A ‘lively’ round table session followed in the afternoon. With individual representatives from four leading private insurance companies; Aviva, AXA, Bupa and Vitality. Tailed by Royal Derby’s Commercial Finance Director, Darren Riley, explaining the common business case issues within the NHS.
The SBK event concluded with a summary of the key sector trends driving growth. Principally patient safety and self-pay patient access and choice. Then rounded off fittingly by Phillip Housden, Housden Group, with a call for colleagues to seize the £billion a year opportunity that private patients now present to the NHS.
“PPU growth is a win not only for NHS Trusts and their patients, but also to consultants in fee growth. Looking more widely. The potential renaissance in NHS PPU provision across the NHS – as every Trust should have one – is now a route for insurers to develop their product offer to their existing and new members. As expanded geographical access and depth and range of service could finally stimulate the stagnant insurance take-up rates.”
Philip Housden, Housden Group