Mr Tom Ember

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 2023

 

Mr Ember offers a complete care service for both adults and children with pathologies of the spine.

 

In this role, he works with a multidisciplinary team of experts to ensure that the patient is offered comprehensive care, from diagnosis through to post-operative rehabilitation. The team consists of radiologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pain management consultants and nursing staff.

 

Mr Ember 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.

 

In this role, he contributes to the strategy, policies and decision making regarding spinal services and advises HCA to ensure that care provided within the facility is appropriate and efficient. He advises on initiatives to drive clinical standards by providing professional advice on clinical governance matters and ensures the adoption of those by colleagues in the spinal services 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 spinal services available in the facility. 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 2023 the total paid for these services was £43,503.

 

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.