www.independent-practitioner-today.co.uk
December 2024-January 2025 Issue 168
INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONER TODAY
The business journal for doctors in private practice
£12.50
17 years of support To celebrate our 168 issues, we’ve compiled advice, tips and insights independent practitioners need to be aware of to help achieve practice success. n See page 16 www.independent-practitioner-tod
ay.co.uk
INDEPENDENT PRACTITIONER TODAY
November 2024
The business journal doctors in private for practice
In this issue
Difficulties of treating
your own
Medico-legal expert Dr Haroon on the issue Sophie of for a ‘doctor-patient’ caring
P18
Turn yourself into medical film star a
Making a video for your practice? Make sure you engage your viewers P26
Issue 167
£12.50
Where the Chancellor will cause you pain
Specialist medical accountant Richard Norbury gives a round-up of the Budget n Page 10
Perils of resigning in the heat of the moment
Legal advice on how to treat your staff fairly in the event of a disagreement P38
Independence decl aration
By Robin Stride
Consultants have unveiled their tions on what blueprint for a private experienced conhealth marsultants could earn, ket disruptor aimed and consumer at giving them inability to shop If we get the feedback greater control around. over fees and give from large Patients were experiencing numbers that this patients a bigger is something the say over who ever increasing premiums private doctors’ community treats them. for ever wants, decreasing coverage, it’s going to happen The ambitious move the reason – and we are has already people went private going to fix things received backing not just for was being from hundreds of eroded, and now doctors but for patients specialists and was there were prias well. cheered by docvate consultant DR LEON CREANEY, tors at the BMA’s waiting lists. annual private According to a new BMA private practice practice conference BMA survey, committee where the conmost private doctors member cept was announced. are in the late 40s and 50s age It is proposed group and there a new unionare not the numbers owned company of younger called ‘BMA people to replace Health’ would them, said Dr function Creaney. ‘In the member and lead national super-chambers’ as ‘a next ten years for private mediI for docworry the number BMA Health would cal insurer negotiations, tors, providing of private docmuch of the busialso negotistressed it tors is going to fall ate the unbundling would not fix prices. ness back-up they off a cliff.’ of fees for radineed to practise Insurance rates ologists and pathologists, The plan had potential and it would also are 30-40% less administer serwho ‘to do a than on the open would return to lot of good’ in vices for patients. market and it is setting their own the private sector becoming more fees with hospitals. with doctors setting The plan aims for favourable to work the first time to their own in the NHS than Income would rates as they thought unite private doctors privately, he added. come from docfit and allowinto a single BMA private practice tors paying practice ing market forces corporate entity, committee management legally entitled to to decide, he chair Dr Jennifer fees and from patients’ said. collectively negotiate Yell said ‘moderate’ on behalf of should allow consultants insurers subscriptions. It BMA Health would its shareholders. would be a wholly to charge negotiate top-up fees. Doctors owned subsidiary with insurers on It would have an wanted fairof the BMA, behalf of doctors initial focus on ness all round and eventually being and patients, self-payers and she urged dele49% owned by who would be new consultants, gates to know their doctor-users. offered GP and and provide practice worth consultant finder management to be afraid of lobbying. and not Dr Creaney argued services. services such as appointments, pr ivate The BMA Health healthcare is ‘unwell,’ It is hoped consultants diary, letters and announcement with billing. doctors will now followed a Bupa outsmarted by global express widespread Later it would offer letter to consultcorporations interest. Dr a ‘no excluants announcing employing divide Creaney received sions’ comprehensive fee increases. and conquer tacthe day’s biggest private medThis drew a lukewarm tics. ‘Doctors need applause at the ical insurance to show solidarLondon event, response product, bring from the Independent in ity with each other. declaring: ‘If we senior consultants It’s up to us to get the feedback Doctors and use scale Federation (IDF) reclaim our territory from large numbers economies to to which the negotiate ‘fairer’ and mend a that this is insurer commented broken sector,’ he something the hospital rates for to Independent said. private doctors’ self-payers. Practitioner Today: He listed a variety community wants, Sports and exercise ‘We are commitof consultants’ it’s going to medicine ted to ensuring the frustrations including happen – and we consultant Dr fees we pay balare going to fix Leon Creaney, many sayance affordability a ing they were not things not just for BMA private practice for customers as doing doctors but for committee well as fairly reimbursing medical insurance-paidprivate patients as well.’ consultwork ants for the services because it was not they provide.’ worth it, restricOur sponsors ➱ continued on page 13
We’re checking out. . . A farewell message from Robin Stride, editorial director
We wish all our readers a happy and prosperous 2025. For many consultants and GPs in independent practice, the new year is set to bring some exciting professional opportunities in an increasingly busy private healthcare sector. But to everything there is a season and for the current editorial team at Independent Practitioner Today it is now time to enjoy new work/life challenges. ‘IPT’ – as we fast became widely known – is now in its 18th calendar year but we came of age in journal terms more quickly than we dared expect. With the prospect of redun-
dancy beckoning following the imminent closure of a big publisher’s medical titles, a group of four of us faced the big questions familiar to most private doctors: ‘Should we go independent?’ ‘Where will we work from?’, ‘What will we be called? and ‘How much should we charge?’ Half an hour after the redundancy announcement, we were blessed to have attracted enough promised support from would-be investors to enable our move. Much-valued sponsors also came on board and we soon had a company, directors and a diverse group of backers. Business contacts provided an amazing amount of goodwill and advice to cut through the inevitable red tape and within four
months our unique journal, featuring the first monthly 24-page print edition, was delivered to thousands of doctors. Things snowballed with readers’ and advertisers’ support and we were soon the fastest growing medical publication and regularly featuring over 60 pages. With Covid-19 forcing big business decisions for independent practitioners, and us too, we moved to a totally digital format with the option of page-turn editions with the editorial mirrored separately on the website. These have been supplemented by popular weekly news updates and our online Business Directory. Our aim has always been to provide you with the easy-to-read news you need to know and expert
articles to assist you in developing a stronger and safer private practice business which ultimately benefits your patients. We hope we have done that for you and can echo the words of the orthopaedic surgeon who recommended us as ‘a great resource for information and advice’ in his article ‘Ten tips from my first year in private practice’. Now we leave you on a positive note with 168 expert tips, advice and observations drawn from every issue (starting on page 16) – including those from the consultant above. Thank you for reading us and for all your support, which we hope will continue under the new team. ➱ continued on page 2
. . . as Healthcare Today checks in Over the past 15 years, the private healthcare landscape has undergone profound change. Through out this transformation, Independent Practitioner Today has been a constant, providing in-depth coverage of the challenges and developments facing medical professionals in this dynamic sector. After 168 issues and a remarkable legacy since June 2008, Independent Practitioner Today is preparing for its own transformation by evolving into Healthcare Today. Launching in January 2025, this new platform will broaden its focus to include both the private and public healthcare sectors, delivering essential news, features, expert
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insights, and interviews for an audience of healthcare professionals driven by a desire to do better for the patient. Building on the legacy of IPT, Healthcare Today will combine the accessibility of a responsive website with the depth of a monthly digital digest. True to its roots, Healthcare Today will remain an independent and trusted voice, addressing core topics such as: n Patient safety; n Litigation and inquests; n Government and policy; n Regulation and compliance; n Technology and innovation; n Biotech and pharma. ‘Healthcare Today is committed to
empowering those in the business of improving lives,’ says incoming editor-in-chief Glen Ferris. ‘It’s our mission to listen and learn from the UK’s most respected medical professionals.’ With insightful contributions from experts across all specialties, as well as interviews with MPs, policymakers and t hought leaders, Healthcare Today aims to track significant sector advances, share actionable insights, and equip medical professionals to navigate a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Boasting a subscriber base of 130,000 healthcare professionals at launch – including more than 80,000 doctors, resident doctors,
consultants and specialists, as well as 30,000 support staff and 4,000 business leaders – Healthcare Today is poised to become a vital resource for fostering meaningful discussions on improving patient care.
What to expect later in January The inaugural issue will feature an exclusive interview with former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP, sharing his views on the NHS’s upcoming patient safety reforms. It will also include contributions from leading clinical specialists, prominent consultants, and innovators in the MedTech and biotech sectors. n For more information, visit www.healthcaretoday.com.