NHS Partners Network welcomes CCP report on the use of consultants’ non-contracted hours

24/09/2009

David Worskett comments on the Cooperation and Competition Panel's report on consultants' work for other NHS providers in non-contracted hours.

A report published today by the Cooperation and Competition Panel (CCP) has concluded that restrictions on consultants’ work for other providers of NHS services in non-contracted hours will reduce patient choice, stifle innovation and undermine investment in the NHS.

Commenting on the report, David Worskett, director of the NHS Confederation’s NHS Partners Network said:

“We welcome the findings of the CCP’s report and believe that intelligent flexibility and co-operation in the way consultants are used to treat NHS patients is the right approach.

“The CCP rightly acknowledges that all providers in the scope of this report are NHS providers, so there is no conflict of interest in terms of consultants working for competitors.

“We agree that patient safety should always be top of the agenda and it is right for the CCP to acknowledge that consultants hours should be restricted if they pose any risk to high quality care.

“This first case for the CCP was a major challenge to tackle and we welcome the panel’s common sense guidance to NHS employers.”

Notes to Editors

NHS Partners Network is an alliance of independent – both commercial and not-for-profit healthcare providers commissioned by the NHS to provide primary & community, elective and diagnostic care to NHS patients free at the point of delivery. It was established in 2005 and became part of the NHS Confederation in June 2007.

Members of NHS Partners Network: Alliance Medical Limited, Care UK, Circle, Clinicenta Ltd, General Health Group, HarmoniCPO Ltd, InHealth, InterHealth Canada, The Horder Centre, Nuffield Health, Pfizer Health Solutions UK, Ramsay Health Care UK, Spire Healthcare, UK Specialist Hospitals Ltd and UnitedHealth UK.

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact Media Relations Officer Francesca Reville on 020 7074 3312 or 07884 473086. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

Contacts

Francesca Reville
020 7074 3312
Francesca.Reville@nhsconfed.org

Niall Smith
020 7074 3304
Niall.Smith@nhsconfed.org

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NHS Partners Network welcomes CCP report on the use of consultants’ non-contracted hours

Notes to Editors

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Contacts