Provider Appeals: A Necessary Step

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 24 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The NHS is to set up a new appeals process that will allow healthcare providers to appeal against local decisions if they believe they have been treated unfairly.

The proposal was first put forward by the NHS Alliance providers' network last year, in its report: Making trouble for the NHS? (May 2007).

As well as commercial companies, new providers include groups of GPs and other clinicians, coming together in social enterprise or mutual organisations, sometimes as an offshoot from practice based commissioning groups.

The NHS Alliance found that a small but significant number felt they were being obstructed at the local level. It proposed a new, fast-moving and non-bureaucratic system that would adjudicate situations of this sort.

NHS Alliance chairman Dr Michael Dixon said:

"There are all sorts of groups who want to do something new and innovative to improve local healthcare. The NHS needs that entrepreneurial spirit and in most cases it is encouraged. However a mechanism for challenging official decisions where people feel obstructed is clearly necessary.

"Like any other, the market in healthcare provision needs a regulatory system to make sure it is working as it should. That should be independent of both local NHS organisations and Whitehall.

"The NHS Alliance looks forward to working closely with the Department of Health in developing this worthwhile idea."

Notes:

1.The NHS Alliance is a collaboration of professionals who put patients first. Values based, it is the only organisation that brings together PCTs with GP practices, clinicians with managers and Board members, and NHS primary care with its patients. The Alliance membership and its hard working national executive is fully multi-professional.

2.The Providers' Network is one of twelve NHS Alliance networks, including the Practice Based Commissioners' Federation; the Nurses' Network, Specialists in Primary Care and more.

NHS Alliance