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July 2020 Issue 123
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Recovery position
By Robin Stride
This month’s Independent Pract itioner Today is packed with a wide range of information, useful tips, and observations from a variety of expert writers – all aimed at help ing your private practice move for ward again. Our exclusive website story last week reported that private health care and consultants’ earnings are at last seeing a ‘modest revival’. So we hope this issue’s practical advice will be a big help as you move towards some sort of recovery. According to data from leading digital services provider Health code, a slight improvement in insured patients’ activity was regis tered in the first half of June. Billing volumes in the third week of May were 67% down on the same period in 2019 but had revived slightly last month when they were 56% below the previous year’s figure. Of course, there is much to be done now and some, such as the London Consultants’ Association, are voicing less than optimistic views about the future. It is calling for concerted action from everyone: ‘Apart from the consultants, who recognise the reality of the destruction of their business, there seems to be a mis taken acceptance that there will be natural restoration of private prac tice post-Covid. ‘This is unlikely to occur without an underlying support strategy and there is a need for all these compo nents – private medical insurers, In association with
providers and the consultants – to work together to develop a strategy for the future survival of the sector.’ See page 10. We hope to see some strong lead ership to bring this about, but meanwhile the private doctors finding their feet again on the ground in the ‘new norm’ can find a wealth of immediate support for their own business published here: Page 4: Private doctors’ experience in the pandemic is likely to make them reassess their business model and clinical priorities, says the Independent Doctors Federation’s Dr Neil Haughton. Page 12: Following the LCA urging private doctors to think twice about accepting 50% fee cuts from insur ers for virtual consultations (see our website story, 17 June), surgeon Mr Ian McDermott spells out just why this work is worth every penny. Page 16: Our A-Z of top tips from the accountant’s desk continues with a very topical ‘L’…Leaving lockdown: lessons in IT security. Page 18: Private doctors’ organisa tions – as we reported on our website last month – have wel comed an NHS England pledge paving the way for a resumption of consultants’ work in the independ ent sector. We share contents of the letter that has raised private doc tors’ hopes of getting back to work. Page 20: David Hare, boss of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, tells us: ‘I firstly want to assure Independent Practitioner Today readers that independent health care providers absolutely under
Prof David Gartry – pictured with his team at the Wimpole Eye Clinic in London – gives his advice on how to open up your practice – see page 32 stand the impact this has had on consultants’ working life and the frustrations they feel and, as a sector, we are doing everything we can to release private practice and get more private consultants back to work.’ Page 22: Positive patient experi ence is the most powerful way to influence the reputation of your service, requiring discipline across all aspects of your practice. As a result, it is imperative to have a clear strategy that is understood by everybody involved. Our Guide To Delivering Superior Patient Experience In Private Practice con tinues as Jane Braithwaite shows how to get started or review and evolve your current offering. Page 25: Tips for staying secure while working from home. Remote working opens great possibilities for flexible working practices, but it also significantly raises the risk from cyber threats and data breaches, warns IT director Murray Hart. Page 30: Now re-organise your pri vate practice to best advantage, post
Covid-19. Stephanie Carmichael show how. Page 32: As growing numbers of independent practitioners move closer to resuming private practice, Prof David Gartry shares his story. Page 34: Ten billing rules to ensure your practice recovers. Words of wisdom from Medical Billing and Collection’s Simon Brignall. Page 38: Change is inevitable. Cavendish Medical’s Dr Benjamin Holdsworth shows why diversifica tion in your investments will mean not missing the next Amazon. Page 40: The CQC regulates you, but who regulates the regulator? Hempsons solicitor Philippa Doyle says if you get a bad report – and they are still coming through – then make sure you challenge it. Page 46: Covid-19’s impact will be felt for some time to come, so for those starting out in private prac tice – or needing a review – it will be a tougher environment. Account ant Ian Tongue prescribes some financial considerations for success.