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The College and the independent sector

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Darran Bloye*
Affiliation:
Wathwood Hospital RSU, Gipsy Green Lane, Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire S63 7TQ, email: Darran.Bloye@nottshc.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Type
The Columns
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008

Sugarman & Nimmagadda (Psychiatric Bulletin, November 2007, 31, 404–406) argue persuasively for equivalent access to Continuing Professional Development, revalidation and appraisal requirements for both private sector and National Health Service (NHS) consultants. But it is disappointing that they attempt to drive a wedge between private and NHS (‘government service’) psychiatrists, arguing without evidence that the latter are more mired in administration and are less focused on clinical work. They also take a swipe at nationally agreed terms and conditions with their outdated criticism of the NHS pension scheme and Clinical Excellence Awards, implying their support for a more casualised medical workforce governed by market forces.

The article highlights the need for the College to take a more critical stance than the one afforded by Hollins (Reference Hollins2007) on the involvement of the private sector within publicly funded services. Of all detained patients in March 2006 17.1% were located at private hospitals (Department of Health, 2007) and it is surprising that increasing private sector development at the expense of local NHS development has not led to the same level of debate as the Independent Sector Treatment Centres within surgical specialties. The authors are correct to challenge myths about the competencies of clinicians working in the private sector but legitimate concerns regarding the relative costs of care, increased geographical isolation of private units, and poaching of NHS-trained staff on often inferior terms and conditions should not be dismissed lightly or ignored as the elephant in the room.

References

Department of Health (2007) In-patients Formally Detained in Hospitals Under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Other Legislation, NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Independent Hospitals; 2005–06. http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/mha0506.Google Scholar
Hollins, S. (2007) Are they in or out? Commentary on … The College and the independent sector. Psychiatric Bulletin, 31, 407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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