Explaining independent sector differences
Paterson Inquiry · Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson · Issued 4 February 2020 · Addressed to: Department of Health and Social Care
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
We recommend that the differences between how the care of patients in the independent sector is organised and the care of patients in the NHS is organised is explained clearly to patients, so that they understand how the engagement of their consultant, their practising privileges, their indemnity, and emergency and intensive care arrangements work.
Paterson Inquiry, Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson · 4 Feb 2020 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- The December 2022 implementation update stated that the Competition and Markets Authority requires independent practitioners to send cost estimates and procedure information to patients pre-consultation, and that the government planned to publish information explaining differences between NHS and independent sector care arrangements in 2023 (Paterson Inquiry Implementation Update, DHSC, December 2022).
- No published government information document specifically explaining the differences between NHS and independent sector care arrangements has been identified to March 2026.
Response — verbatim from government
●Department of Health and Social Care
Accepted. CQC now requires independent healthcare providers to ensure patients understand these arrangements as part of their registration conditions. The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) also provides comparative information. Independent providers should explain consultant engagement arrangements, practising privileges, indemnity cover, and emergency care arrangements. (Source: Government Response, December 2021)
Department of Health and Social Care · 16 Dec 2021
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
No published activity has been recorded against this recommendation yet.
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.