Mr Rick Popert

Transparency under the CMA Order 2014

 

All private healthcare operators are required under the Competition and Markets Authority Order 2014 (“The CMA Order”) to be transparent about the relationship between their doctor and the private healthcare operator. Therefore, prospective patients should be aware that (in addition to being permitted to consult with and to treat patients at our facilities) this doctor also has an advisory role with HCA UK and is paid by HCA UK for this advisory role. We describe the nature of the role below, and we indicate how much the doctor has been paid for performing the role since 1 January 2021.

 

Mr Popert provides medical advisory services for HCA's London Bridge Hospital. In his role he leads interactions with hospital medical staff and the hospital leadership team to assist the hospital by providing medical advice and promote high quality, cost effective care. He provides guidance to the Hospital’s Urology Multidisciplinary meeting, including ensuring timely review of MDT outcomes.

 

In his role, he contributes to the strategy, policies and decision-making regarding urology treatments and advises HCA to ensure that care provided within the facility is appropriate and efficient. Mr Popert advises on initiatives to drive clinical standards by providing professional advice on clinical governance matters and ensuring the adoption of those by colleagues in the urology area.

 

In addition, he works with medical insurance companies, GPs, other relevant local NHS contacts, and patients to educate and advise on relevant clinical updates to treatments in urology available in the facility. Furthermore, he advises on the accuracy of literature that may be published regarding relevant services. He advises on how to make the patient referral smooth to reduce stress and anxiety for patients.

 

HCA UK is charged by doctors in return for their expertise and advice, including on how to operate safe hospital facilities delivering complex care. All services provided under this agreement are charged to HCA UK. In 2022 (until 30 April) the total paid for these services has been £0. In 2021, the total paid for these services was £31,720.

 

If a doctor provides HCA UK with medical advisory services and also practises in the NHS, HCA UK requires that doctor to attest that he/she is not compromising his/her NHS commitments in so doing.