CMA Compliance

Compliances with CMA Order 2014

Consultants are critical to each Circle Health Group hospital.  However, in common with other private healthcare operators and in most instances Circle Health Group does not employ these consultants.  Instead, most consultants working in our hospitals are self-employed practitioners who see and treat patients at our hospitals under the terms of our “Practising Privileges” policy.

In 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority issued an Order (the “CMA Order”) regulating the relationships between private hospital groups and consultants who have Practising Privileges or treat private patients or refer them for tests at group facilities (“Referring Clinicians”).

In accordance with the CMA Order, hospital operators are prohibited from entering into any incentive schemes that are designed to encourage Referring Clinicians to refer patients to, or treat private patients at, their facilities.  Circle Health Group does not operate any such schemes. The Order also requires hospital operators to disclose information about certain arrangements they have with Referring Clinicians, including: ownership interests held by Referring Clinicians in the hospital operator or in equipment used in the hospital; the provision of certain “high value” services to Referring Clinicians; the availability of “low value” basic amenities for Referring Clinicians; and any remuneration for services provided by Referring Clinicians to the hospital.   Set out below is information about the arrangements we have with Referring Clinicians at our hospital.

“Higher Value” Services

We charge our Referring Clinicians £16 per hour for use of our consulting rooms.  With the following exemptions, Referring Clinicians Mr Saleem is charged £10.68 per hour, and Glenys Taylor is charged £22 per hour for use of consulting rooms and medical secretaries. We charge £13.34 per hour (plus VAT) if Referring Clinicians use our medical secretarial services. We charge 3% plus VAT for collecting Referring Clinician’s fees on their behalf. Except in relation to NHS patients.

“Low Value” Services

We provide a number of support services to our Referring Clinicians, for which we do not make a charge.  Further details regarding these arrangements are provided on our corporate webpages (Consultants and GPs). 

Corporate Hospitality events for referring clinicians

At our hospital, we provide general corporate hospitality as detailed on our corporate webpages, further details regarding these arrangements are provided on our corporate webpages (Consultants and GPs). 

Clinician Financial Interests in Fairfield Independent Hospital

Mr Thomas Nicholas, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, owns and operates a Doppler Scan. The hospital does not pay for use of this equipment.  

Dr Manohar Deshpande, Consultant Neurophysiologist, owns and operates Nerve Conduction equipment at the hospital. The hospital does not pay for use of this equipment.