25th Sep 2014 07:43
LONDON (Alliance News) - Spire Healthcare Group PLC said Thursday it was "disappointed" the health-sector regulator Monitor's investigation did not reach a conclusion on whether a block contract between local commissioners and the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was against the interests of patients.
This contract provided the trust with a guaranteed income regardless of the number of patients that chose to use its services.
Monitor agreed that clinical commissioning groups were not providing enough information to patients and general practitioners to choose hospitals. However, it did not uphold Spire's complaint that local commissioners were directing patients away from its Spire Fylde Coast Hospital towards a nearby foundation trust.
Monitor's investigation followed a complaint from the private hospital provider in September 2013 that the Blackpool and Fylde and Wyre clinical commissioning group's were in breach of their regulatory obligations in regards to commissioning elective care in Blackpool and the surrounding area.
Since the start of the investigation the Fylde and Wyre clinical commissioning group has taken "proactive steps" to promote choice for patients, Monitor said, although it believes that plans from the Blackpool commissioner "do not go far enough". As a result, it will now consult on ways to remedy the issues, Monitor said.
Spire noted that the agreement between the clinical commissioning groups and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has now ended, and said it was pleased that Monitor plans to "further analyse the implications for patients of providers and commissioners departing from payment arrangements set out in the Standard Acute Contract".
"We are pleased that this matter has been resolved in the best interests of patients," said Liz Cousins, hospital director at Spire Fylde Coast Hospital, in a statement. "We were extremely reluctant to raise this complaint with the regulator one year ago, but we felt strongly that the rights of patients to choose to be treated at their preferred hospital, which is guaranteed by the NHS Constitution, should be defended."
Shares in Spire were trading up 0.6% at 284.34 pence Thursday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; [email protected]; @HanaSSAllNews
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