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3 Accepted

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 available evidence indicates that implementation is in progress but not complete. The government remains committed to publishing the information requested by the recommendation, but the April 2026 answer says only that publication will occur in due course.
- The Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN) and the Patients Association published a video in January 2020 explaining what patients should expect from independent healthcare (DHSC and NHS England implementation update provided to the Thirlwall Inquiry, April 2025).
- The Department of Health and Social Care stated in April 2025 that it intended to publish information on the differences in care organization between the NHS and independent sector, but work was halted during the 2024 pre-election period (DHSC and NHS England implementation update provided to the Thirlwall Inquiry, April 2025).
- The Department of Health and Social Care stated that it remained committed to the recommendation and that information would be published in due course, without giving a publication date (Written Question HL16569, UK Parliament, 29 April 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Evidence searched by Codex (GPT-5), production evidence audit 2026-07-23 on 30 Jun 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: thirlwall.public-inquiry.uk
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The evidence above reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.

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

  • 29 Apr 2026 · Department of Health and Social Care The Government is committed to fulfilling the recommendation arising from the Paterson Inquiry. Information will be published in due course. Source →
  • 1 Apr 2025 DHSC and NHS England implementation update provided to the Thirlwall Inquiry (April 2025). This is the government's own account of progress, submitted to the inquiry. Reviewed extent of implementation: In progress. In January 2020, the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN) and the Patients Association jointly published a short video on what to expect from independent healthcare. IHPN has committed to produce more resources. The Department of Health and Social Care plans to publish information on the difference in how care is organised between the NHS and Independent Sector. Given the breadth and complexity of the health and care system, this information will focus on hospital-based care in the first instance. Once published, DHSC will work with providers in both the NHS and the Independent Sector to signpost this information as part of the general information patients receive about their care. The previous government agreed that this information would be drafted in house for publication. Prior to the election on 4 July 2024, the Patients Association had been contracted to support in drafting this information by testing knowledge and text with patients. Due to the pre-election period this work was halted at an early stage of its development. DHSC now intends to seek agreement from Ministers on how to proceed with this recommendation. Source →

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.