The NHS in England has entered into a three month agreement with 10 private healthcare providers including Spire, Nuffield and Circle to support the health service if the Omicron variant leads to unsustainable levels of hospitalisations or staff absences.
The deal, effective from today, illustrates how concerned the government is that the current Covid wave could swamp the NHS.
If NHS Trusts need to trigger the surge element of the new deal, routine services at an independent sector site will be suspended to make facilities and staff available to the health service.
Previous utilisation of independent hospitals throughout the pandemic has hit private medical insurance (PMI) providers as the capacity to support private patients has been dramatically cut – with several insurers already having paid rebates to policyholders or announcing the intention to do so.
Under the agreement, local hospitals can quickly activate surge capacity in the independent sector enabling NHS Trusts to send a wider range of patients to the independent sector for treatment.
This includes those requiring some forms of cancer surgery and other care not normally delivered under existing arrangements.
The 10 private providers part of the national arrangement are: Practice Plus Group, Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Health, Circle Health Group, Ramsay Health Care UK, Healthcare Management Trust, One Healthcare, Horder Healthcare, Aspen Healthcare and KIMS Hospital.
Private sector surge capacity would only be triggered if Covid patients requiring treatment were to threaten the NHS’s ability to provide urgent care, NHS England said.
‘100% access if required’
In a statement issued this morning Spire revealed that while final details the contract have yet to be agreed, it will operate on similar terms to the contract in place during Q1 2021 announced on 21 December 2020.
“The agreement will allow Spire Healthcare to continue to treat private patients, while supporting the NHS,” the hospital group said.
However it added: “If required, subject to meeting agreed criteria, Spire Healthcare will grant NHS England access to 100% of its facilities and teams on a local, regional or national basis in the event of a surge of COVID-19 patients in NHS hospitals in England.”
Spire noted the agreement in principle is for payment by activity based on NHS tariff, with minimum value underpins and that while work under the agreement in principle will start today and expire on 31 March 2022, there will be no extension or cancellation unless mutually agreed.
If a Spire Healthcare hospital is in surge, Spire Healthcare will receive 100% cost recovery for its services.
David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said: “Independent sector providers have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the NHS throughout the pandemic, playing a key role in enabling vital NHS care including cancer and cardiology treatment to continue, while also maintaining services for private patients.
“The arrangements being announced today, in response to a call by government and the NHS for further independent sector support during the Omicron wave of Covid-19, will help to bolster planned NHS care including cancer treatment this winter while ensuring that independent sector providers can continue to treat private patients.
“The arrangements will also provide the NHS with additional targeted support in the event that local NHS pressures are deemed as unsustainable.”
Extensive private hospital use
According to NHS England, private sector capacity has been used extensively throughout the pandemic and currently overall use is at almost 115% of pre-pandemic levels.
This includes more than 470,000 day cases, almost 2,800,000 surgical procedures and more than 500,000 diagnostic tests in the last year.
If the surge capacity were to be used the NHS would seek to return to current arrangements, enabling independent sector hospitals to resume usual activities including treating NHS patients, as soon as possible.
The deal, struck under the direction of secretary of state Sajiid Javid, is in addition to the NHS creating additional capacity within its own hospitals.
Hospitals have been asked to identify areas such as gyms and education centres to create surge wards on top of their usual surge capacity with nightingale hubs also being created in the grounds of some hospitals as part of the drive to create up to 4,000 extra beds.
NHS England chief operating officer and Covid incident director Sir David Sloman praised NHS staff and noted millions of patients had already got tests and treatment quicker due to the existing deal with independent providers.
“With the high number of Omicron cases placing even greater pressure on hospitals now and over the coming weeks, this deal, struck under direction from the secretary of state, means as many people as possible can continue to get the care they need,” he said.
“It also places independent health providers on standby to provide further help should hospitals face unsustainable levels of hospitalisations or staff absences.
“Just like the Nightingale hubs being created across the country, we hope never to need their support but it will be there if needed.
“The public can play their part in helping us to help you getting vaccinated against Covid – it is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your friends.”
Challenging period
Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid, said the agreement demonstrated collaboration across health care services to create an additional safeguard.
“NHS staff continue to go above and beyond to ensure people get the treatment they need this winter and our support for the NHS through this challenging period remains at full throttle,” he added.
“I encourage everyone to keep doing their bit to look after themselves and their loved ones and most importantly for all those eligible to get boosted now.”