The leader of the body representing private hospitals and clinics has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.
David Hare (pictured) has been CEO of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) since 2014 and last month was appointed to the government’s taskforce which will “turbocharge” NHS treatment into the private sector.
In the official announcement the Cabinet Office said Hare was being awarded an MBE for services to healthcare, particularly during Covid-19.
The IHPN chief executive said his MBE reflected the “great contribution” which the independent healthcare sector makes to the health of the nation.
Celebrating Hare’s award, the IHPN revealed that during his tenure, its membership has grown from 26 to almost 100 and its work has “expanded significantly” to include critical work to improve standards and patient safety in the sector.
It added that this can be seen through his work in bringing together independent healthcare providers to implement the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework – used by the Care Quality Commission in assessing how well-led an independent service is, and which is now a requirement for all independent providers under the NHS 2022/23 Standard Contract.
The IHPN further revealed that during the pandemic Hare was instrumental in brokering and leading the historic partnership between the NHS and independent hospitals which resulted in the delivery of over 3.3m vital NHS treatments.
This was described by NHS England’s CEO Amanda Pritchard as “critical” in ensuring cancer services could be maintained throughout the pandemic.
Hare also oversaw a similar arrangement in Wales as well as supporting the sector to ensure that vital scans and community treatments were available to the NHS during the most challenging period in its history.
‘Invaluable contribution’
Lord Patel of Bradford, chairman of the IHPN, said: “This award is in recognition of David’s invaluable contribution to the pandemic response, which resulted in millions of NHS patients being able to access treatment in the independent healthcare sector which they would otherwise not have been able to.
“Under his leadership, IHPN has gone from strength to strength and his commitment to ensuring a thriving independent healthcare sector which delivers the highest quality care to both NHS and private patients is recognised across the entire healthcare sector.
“On behalf of IHPN’s board and wider membership, I congratulate him on this welcome recognition of his tireless work during the pandemic.”
Hare added: “I am immensely proud to receive an MBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list. The award is a reflection of the great contribution which the independent healthcare sector makes to the health of the nation, and in particular the care that was delivered to millions of patients during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
This year’s honours saw the likes of Queen guitarist Brian May awarded a knighthood, while England captain Leah Williamson picked up an OBE after her lionesses roared to victory at last summer’s Euros.