CMA Compliance

In the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) instructed private healthcare providers to publish certain information in order to ensure transparency. We have included this information below.

Our Relationship with Consultants
The majority of consultants practising privately at the Parkside Suite have their main NHS practice based within Frimley Park Hospital and are therefore employed by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. All staff at Frimley have access to certain employment benefits (NHS discounts, subsidised parking, subsidised gym membership, etc) these are available to our consultants regardless of private practice.

All consultants who wish to practice privately within the Trust, regardless of where they are based, must submit an application for private Admitting Rights, which is signed off by the Private Patients Manager and Trust Medical Director. This must include proof of professional indemnity.

Low Value Services
All consultants who have been granted admitting rights are offered the same support from the Parkside Suite, including: operational support from the Parkside bookings and insurance team, basic marketing materials and advertising on our website, inclusion into our annual consultant directory and occasionally in paid promotional material such as newspaper adverts.

Consulting Rooms
Consultants are charged £17.00 an hour for the use of Parkside’s Outpatient clinic rooms, including nursing, basic consumables and refreshments.

Secretarial Services
Ad hoc secretarial support is available to consultants subject to capacity, provided by the Parkside admin team. These are charged at a competitive income based recharge.

Some consultants whose NHS practice is based at the Trust ask their secretaries to take on additional duties for private practice. Secretaries do not deal with private patient duties during their regular NHS working hours, except in case of emergency, and any additional hours undertaken are reimbursed by their consultant direct.

Incentives
Consultants do not receive any incentives, direct or indirect, to refer patients or increase their levels of private activity.

If you have any queries regarding the Order or any of the published information, please contact us.