NHS private sector use ‘threatens care’
The growing use of the private sector in delivering NHS care risks compromising the quality of patient care, medical experts warn today.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says there has not been adequate consultation with either the public or local clinicians on how independent providers should be used to deliver healthcare.
In its submission to the Labour party health committee (PLPHC), the BMA also cautions the government about the current lack of data on quality and cost efficiency of the independent sector’s provision of NHS care.
“Pushing forward an agenda with a mix of independent sector and conventional NHS providers, without properly assessing where the extra capacity is needed and how it is to be integrated with existing structures, risks fragmenting NHS services and losing continuity of care for patients,” the association warns.
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has come under fire for plans to use capacity from the independent sector to cut waiting lists, but insists the move is necessary to provide a better health service and give patients more choice about where they are treated.
Ministers also argue that introducing an element of competition into the health system will drive up standards – a position disputed by a number of Labour backbenchers, who are making life difficult for the government as it attempts to push the plans forward.
The BMA today welcomes the “impressive amounts” of money the government has invested into the NHS, and admits that private firms do have “the potential to help reduce waiting times even further”.
“But sadly, the programme of reform, as is currently being implemented, threatens to destroy what already works well in the NHS,” the submission to the PLPHC’s investigation into progress of NHS reform says.
It adds: “Local clinicians and the public are often excluded from discussions to introduce the independent sector into local NHS services and the lack of data on outcomes means that they are unable to assess the quality of patient care or ensure new providers offer value for money.
“Consultants are keen to develop more innovative ways of working. We urge the government to properly engage clinicians, and the public, to ensure the new NHS complements rather than threatens existing services and high quality care for patients is maintained.”
Giving her annual lecture to healthcare workers last night, Ms Hewitt said she was aware of the concerns of clinicians about the impact of NHS reform on them personally and on the system as a whole.
“But I believe strongly these changes create a significant opportunity to ensure we achieve a robust public health delivery system, closely aligned with and integrated with health care and local authority services,” she said.
