9 October 2001 Number 11

 

Subject

 

Submission to House of Commons Health Select Committee.

 

Background

 

The Health Select Committeeis carrying out an inquiry into the role of the private sector in the NHS. It is focusing on the NHS Concordat with theprivate and voluntary sectors; the Private Finance Initiative and public-privatepartnerships.

 

BUPAs position

 

BUPA has supplied written evidence to the Select Committeestating that BUPA wishes to help the NHS to provide public services in anefficient and effective way, for the benefit of the patient. BUPA challenges the assumption that thepublic sector ethos is absent in the private sector. Indeed, BUPA Hospitals and Care Services have been workingsuccessfully with the NHS for a number of years to reduce waiting lists andprovide care for the elderly.Public-private partnership is the established format for delivering careto two of the most vulnerable groups in society the elderly and mentallyinfirm. The Concordat enables the NHSto access extra capacity at attractive rates and with high standards of care. To date the NHS has taken up only half ofthat capacity. Support could also bemade available through providing to elderly patients intermediate care in carehomes following hospital treatment.

BUPAs submission calls for the Government to give moreencouragement to health authorities, Trusts and primary care trusts to includeindependent provision in their capacity planning reviews and, whereappropriate, to invite bids from the independent sector to test themarket. Patients should be able to optfor treatment in an independent hospital, where this can be done at anacceptable cost, if their waiting time is of a certain length. Independent hospital operators should beinvited to contribute proposals for the operation of new diagnostic andtreatment centres for the NHS.

 

Furtherinformation: Richard Jones, Operations Director, BUPA Hospitals, 0207656 2017