News
October 22, 2019
HCA Healthcare UK unites with independent health providers to implement new medical governance framework
HCA Healthcare UK (HCA UK) has joined independent healthcare providers across the country in committing to implement a new medical governance framework that will help ensure all independent sector providers in England are able to further improve the care they are giving to their patients.
The Independent Healthcare Providers Network, which represents independent healthcare providers delivering both NHS and privately-funded care (and of which HCA Healthcare UK is a member), asked former national NHS National Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh to develop some key principles to strengthen and build upon on the medical governance systems already in place in the sector.
The principles form part of a Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework which will be launched today at IHPN’s annual summit in London, and reinforce expected practice in a number of key areas including:
- Clinical governance structures
- Patient safety, clinical quality and continuous improvement
- Whole practice appraisal of clinicians
- Raising and responding to concerns from staff and patients
- In developing the framework, Sir Bruce was supported by an Expert Advisory Group including representatives from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), General Medical Council (GMC), NHS England & Improvement, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Patients Association.
HCA UK was also invited to contribute to the development of Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework as part of the Expert Advisory Group.
In addition to HCA UK, so far over 28 independent providers, representing over 200 individual sites, have signed up to implementing the framework, and the CQC have committed to considering the effective and robust implementation of the framework’s principles as evidence of good governance and will inform the judgement they make about how well led a service is. The framework will also be reviewed in late 2020 to ensure the principles remain in keeping with current best practice around medical governance in the health system.
John Reay, CEO of HCA Healthcare UK said: "We are proud of our robust clinical governance that puts patient safety and the delivery of high quality care at the centre of what we do.
"Being part of the Expert Advisory Group gave us the opportunity contribute the development of the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework that can be used across the sector and demonstrates our collective ambition to continually learn and improve for our patients."
Sir Bruce Keogh, lead for the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework, said: "Independent healthcare providers currently deliver healthcare to millions of people every year, including a significant number of NHS patients. While the vast majority of care in independent providers is of high quality and underpinned by robust safety and medical governance processes, more can and should be done to ensure clinicians and independent providers are working together to perform to the highest possible standards.
"I’ve therefore been delighted to work with healthcare regulators, Medical Royal Colleges and healthcare providers from across the independent sector to develop the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework which will help foster a more standardised approach to medical governance in the sector and ultimately drive up the quality and safety of care for patients."
Sir Bruce Keogh is also a member of HCA UK’s Advisory Board.
David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network said: "Strong medical governance is the bedrock of safe patient care and I’m therefore delighted that IHPN has had the opportunity to work with Sir Bruce Keogh in developing this framework, which will play a critical role in raising the bar in medical leadership and ensuring greater consistency around how clinicians work across the independent sector and NHS.
"While the Care Quality Commission made clear in their report on independent acute hospitals last year that the overwhelming majority of care delivered in the sector is either good or outstanding, the sector was quick to act on their call for greater consistency around medical governance. The development of this framework demonstrates this culture of learning and continuous improvement which can be found in the sector and will give confidence to patients that independent healthcare providers are committed to delivering the safest possible care."
The Independent Healthcare Providers Network, which represents independent healthcare providers delivering both NHS and privately-funded care (and of which HCA Healthcare UK is a member), asked former national NHS National Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh to develop some key principles to strengthen and build upon on the medical governance systems already in place in the sector.
The principles form part of a Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework which will be launched today at IHPN’s annual summit in London, and reinforce expected practice in a number of key areas including:
- Clinical governance structures
- Patient safety, clinical quality and continuous improvement
- Whole practice appraisal of clinicians
- Raising and responding to concerns from staff and patients
- In developing the framework, Sir Bruce was supported by an Expert Advisory Group including representatives from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), General Medical Council (GMC), NHS England & Improvement, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Patients Association.
HCA UK was also invited to contribute to the development of Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework as part of the Expert Advisory Group.
In addition to HCA UK, so far over 28 independent providers, representing over 200 individual sites, have signed up to implementing the framework, and the CQC have committed to considering the effective and robust implementation of the framework’s principles as evidence of good governance and will inform the judgement they make about how well led a service is. The framework will also be reviewed in late 2020 to ensure the principles remain in keeping with current best practice around medical governance in the health system.
John Reay, CEO of HCA Healthcare UK said: "We are proud of our robust clinical governance that puts patient safety and the delivery of high quality care at the centre of what we do.
"Being part of the Expert Advisory Group gave us the opportunity contribute the development of the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework that can be used across the sector and demonstrates our collective ambition to continually learn and improve for our patients."
Sir Bruce Keogh, lead for the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework, said: "Independent healthcare providers currently deliver healthcare to millions of people every year, including a significant number of NHS patients. While the vast majority of care in independent providers is of high quality and underpinned by robust safety and medical governance processes, more can and should be done to ensure clinicians and independent providers are working together to perform to the highest possible standards.
"I’ve therefore been delighted to work with healthcare regulators, Medical Royal Colleges and healthcare providers from across the independent sector to develop the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework which will help foster a more standardised approach to medical governance in the sector and ultimately drive up the quality and safety of care for patients."
Sir Bruce Keogh is also a member of HCA UK’s Advisory Board.
David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network said: "Strong medical governance is the bedrock of safe patient care and I’m therefore delighted that IHPN has had the opportunity to work with Sir Bruce Keogh in developing this framework, which will play a critical role in raising the bar in medical leadership and ensuring greater consistency around how clinicians work across the independent sector and NHS.
"While the Care Quality Commission made clear in their report on independent acute hospitals last year that the overwhelming majority of care delivered in the sector is either good or outstanding, the sector was quick to act on their call for greater consistency around medical governance. The development of this framework demonstrates this culture of learning and continuous improvement which can be found in the sector and will give confidence to patients that independent healthcare providers are committed to delivering the safest possible care."
HCA Healthcare UK unites with independent health providers to implement new medical governance framework