THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR DOCTORS WITH A PRIVATE PRACTICE
In this issue
A smooth handover
Our resident accountant gives advice on how to ensure a good succession on retirement P10
Get positive feedback
Some wise counsel for those who market themselves using patient testimonials P24
Your private healthcare choice Introducing the London hospitals in our portfolio:Parkside Hospital
A combination of current medical treatments, specialist consultants, nursing staff, excellent facilities and peaceful surroundings create Parkside Hospital’s reputation for excellence. Call: 020 8971 8000
JANUARY Tues Wed
Visit: www.cancercentrelondon.co.uk
Holly House Hospital
For over 30 years, Holly House has been providing first class private healthcare. The new £20 million purpose-built development offers treatment and diagnostics amongst most medical specialities in state-of-the-art facilities. Call: 020 8505 3311 Visit: www.hollyhouse-hospital.co.uk
Highgate Private HospitalHospital
Established 30 years, we are aLocated in Excellence inover Private Healthcare... leading private hospital serving the Highgate needs an exclusive area of north London, of NorthHospital London isand the surrounding Private proud to have beenareas. caring We pridepatients ourselves our30excellent for your for on over years. Consultation, facilities high standards of clinical imaging, and treatment and surgery available across and nursing care, in a friendly Orthopaedics (incl.provided spinal), Urology, Gynaecology, and welcoming General Surgery,atmosphere. Endoscopy, GI and ENT. Private GP and4182 health screening also offered. Call: 020 8341 Visit: www.highgatehospital.co.uk Call: 020 8341 4182 Visit: www.highgatehospital.co.uk
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Huge hospital planned By Robin Stride Top independent practitioners are set to be given practising privileges in a palatial multi-millionpound international hospital destined for London. Early plans for the new-build development, which would aim to be a beacon for high-net-worth self-pay patients from overseas, emerged to some parties two years ago – but then the project stalled. Now, however, discussions about the scheme are gathering renewed intensity as more concrete proposals take shape. Independent Practitioner Today has been told the venture has some serious financial backing and the search is already underway for the right team to run the facility. A source said: ‘It’s back on the cards. I don’t know what the hiccough was. They have gone to the extent of retaining a high-end selection business in the UK for the management team. ‘My understanding is that all the funding has come from a strong UK-based enterprise with United States connections. It is not a medical group, but a strong financial concern. ‘There was a “glitch” 18 months ago, but I think you can expect to hear something further in 2015. ‘If you live in Dubai and you are In association with
not well, you have a choice: The Mayo or this new international hospital.’ As well as from the Middle East, ‘ultra-high-end’ patients will, it is said, also be targeted from India and Africa. There has been a huge drop-off in recent years in the number of overseas patients coming for treatment in the UK. Many are going instead to newer and more modern hospitals outside of the UK, which have been marketing themselves strongly around the world (Independent Practitioner Today, February and April 2014). Initiatives unconnected to the new international hospital were launched earlier this year to find a way of increasing medical business by promoting the ‘Harley Street’ and the ‘London’ brand to overseas patients. Although the new international hospital is thought likely to have ‘several hundred’ beds, a large proportion of them would not be for patients but for their accompanying staff and relatives. They can expect five-star hotel facilities, including garaging. The source said: ‘This would be good for London. The capital is seen as a safe haven in a world of turmoil. The UK is a trusted market.
‘Harley Street used to carry a name abroad, but not so much now. ‘If you arrive here and go big here with a project like this, you can have a big market for yourself for ten years.’ Another source, who has been privy to some details of the scheme, commented: ‘Given the current Competition and Markets
ENGLAND CALL-UP Spire Liverpool Hospital sports medicine consultant Dr Nigel Jones is the new official doctor for the England rugby union team. He is working as official sports medicine consultant and doctor for this year’s autumn internationals and next year’s Six Nations and World Cup. Dr Jones said it was an immense honour. ‘I have acted as official doctor for the under-19s and under-21s before, but this is a different level of Xxxxx and intensity. I workload intend to enjoy every moment.’
Authority investigation (into private healthcare), if you have got London as a magnet attracting more competition, then it will make it easier for existing major players to continue with the estate they’ve got – because there will be more competition.’ Early estimates from observers put the project costs in the order of £600m.