A recent survey of industry figures has revealed that private healthcare firms are experiencing an increase in business caused by the financial squeeze across the NHS in England.

101 influential industry figures were surveyed including Chief Executives, Investors and Advisers. 34% of respondents said that budgetary pressure in the NHS had led to an increased demand for private healthcare.

It is believed that independent providers are benefiting from the growing number of patients who are choosing to pay for their own care after having treatment delayed or denied altogether by an Primary Care Trust (PCT). Self-funding was seen most commonly being seen in treatments such as hip or knee replacement, hernia repair or cataract removal.

David Worskett, Chief Executive of the NHS Partners Network believes that “misguided” decisions of many PCTs can force patients to wait many months for treatment, often delaying until the next financial year. A reduction in overall numbers of referrals due to stricter criteria has also lead to a “rationing by stealth” trend, in some cases restricting or delaying access to treatment. This comes as the NHS strives to make £20 billion in efficiency savings by 2015 whilst simultaneously adjusting to a reduced budget increase.

Mark Varian of Ramsay Healthcare asserts that the boom in private healthcare is directly attributeble to tighter NHS budgets. Furthermore, he reports that the NHS is funding treatment in private hospitals in order to ensure that patients are treated within the 18-week “Referral To Treatment” RTT deadline. Due to extensions in NHS waiting lists, Trusts are using private providers to clear backlogs and ensure targets are not missed. All 34 hospitals and treatment centres run by Ramsay Healthcare signed contracts in June with a number of Trusts to take on some of their caseload, with growing numbers of Trusts are doing the same with other private care providers.

It is also believed that more patients are seeking a private healthcare option due to the expansion of patient choice within the NHS under the “no choice about me, without me” directive.

The survey also revealed that 76% of those questioned agreed or strongly agreed that the uncertainty surrounding the Health and Social Care Bill could potentially harm private healthcare providers. Over 80% believe the public and medical backlash against the reforms has prompted many investors to leave the sector because of the risks involved.

Conversely, 55% of those polled think that handing control of £60 billion of the NHS budget to GP-led clinical commissioning groups in 2013 will ultimately produce a more competitive market in healthcare.

As it becomes an increasing demand that Trusts align themselves alongside private providers in a competitive environment, they could seek to implement an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system. Therapy Manager is an EPR system which illustrates the true Costs of Care by speciality and by condition, ensuring that the highest quality patient care is provided at the best price. The system also provides a simple mechanism to capture and audit PROM’s as well as providing the opportunity to analyse outcomes versus other clinical and activity parameters captured during the patient journey, ensuring that patient choice is well supported.

Original Source The Guardian

About Pathway Software

Pathway Software (www.pathwaysoftware.com) specialises in the design and development of patient information systems for Allied Health professionals.

Its flagship product, Therapy Manager, is an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system specifically designed for Therapy Services to provide decision makers with the ability to track and manage clinical activity and analyse cost of care by patient, episode or service. The system also demonstrably reduces administration time and the costs of managing Therapy Services.