1st Jul 2020 11:59
(Alliance News) - Spire Healthcare Group PLC on Wednesday said it will settle the GBP1.2 million fine levied by the UK Competition & Markets Authority as it admitted its part in illegal price fixing at one of its hospitals.
The private hospital operator said that in August 2017, seven ophthalmology consultants at Regency Hospital in Macclesfield agreed to align their fees for initial ophthalmology consultations provided to self-pay patients, resulting in a GBP20 increase in the fees of four consultants to GBP200.
In its findings, the UK regulator said the illegal arrangement - which went on for nearly two years - was first initiated following a dinner organised by the hospital's management during which the topic of fees was raised. After the dinner, a Spire employee at the hospital sent an email to all 7 consultants to suggest that the agreed price for initial consultations for self-pay patients be set at GBP200 going forward.
The ophthalmologists agreed and four of them increased their prices from GBP180, with the remaining three already charging GBP200. Spire then liaised with its customer service team to facilitate the arrangement, the CMA added.
Spire Healthcare apologised for its conduct, adding that it believes 150 self-pay patients had relevant consultation appointments during the two-year period. It stated that the individual consultants also agreed to settle with fines in the range of between GBP642 to GBP3,859 each.
"It is important to note that this investigation related to conduct in 2017 regarding the charging of a small number of ophthalmology consultations at Spire Regency and did not in any way relate to the quality of patient care. Spire Healthcare has a strong compliance culture and is disappointed with the failure to meet its standards in this isolated case," it said.
The stock was trading 0.6% higher at 85.60 pence each on Wednesday morning in London, but 40% lower from the start of the year.
By Ife Taiwo; [email protected].
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