15 June 2000

Number 3

 

Subject

 

House of Commons Health Committee inquiry onconsultants contracts.

 

Background

 

The Health Committee is undertaking an inquiry toexamine NHS consultants contracts in terms of their accountability,effectiveness and efficiency; and in particular to establish the effectivenessof contracts in determining the amount of work conducted by consultants for theNHS and for the independent sector, and the impact this has on the NHS.

 

BUPAs position

 

BUPA has provided written evidence to the committee suggestingthat consultants contracts are modernised to include:

 

        Guidelines and targets for quality, productivity andhealth outcomes, which are rewarded accordingly.

 

        The specific number of hours consultants are committed towork for the NHS.

 

        Transparency and sharing of information between the NHSand the independent sector so that both sectors are aware of each consultantscommitments and activities.

 

BUPA does not agree that consultants are treating patientsin the private sector when they should be working in the NHS. Research has shown that on averageconsultants work over 50 hours a week in the NHS. Last year, 72 per cent of consultants reimbursed by BUPA earnedno more than 10,000 in this way.

 

Around one million surgical procedures a year are carriedout in independent hospitals and BUPA estimates that without this contribution,NHS waiting lists could increase by up to 50 per cent at a cost of up to 1billion.

 

Further information: RichardJones, Operations Director Hospitals, 020 7656 2017

AndrewVallance Owen, Medical Director, 020 7656 2036

Keith Biddlestone, HealthcarePartnerships Director, 0161 931 5101