More work needs to be done to improve the join between the independent sector and the NHS when it comes to referring patients with cancer.
This is according to private sector professionals participating in the Westminster Health Forum’s conference this morning on the role of the independent sector in healthcare delivery.
They were responding to a question asked by Health & Protection about what a good hybrid solution looks like given National Friendly’s exploration of an option where customers have their cancer diagnostics using private medical insurance (PMI), but can then default back to the NHS for the actual delivery of the treatment.
David Hare, CEO of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), (pictured) maintained while the issue brings with it “obvious” sensitivities around queue jumping, significant numbers of people will only find out they have cancer when they go for a scan for something else.
“And there have been cases recently that have done that and it’s all been held up and the join between the two systems hasn’t really worked,” Hare continued.
“It’s something we really do need to look at, because you need to get the balance right between fairness and then speed where there is an urgent issue.
“I don’t think we’ve quite got it right.”
Andy Howlett, director of strategy, community diagnostic centres at InHealth, agreed, adding: “Often we will diagnose a patient with cancer as an unexpected finding on a scan for another reason.
“And we do sometimes struggle to refer those patients in on a two week wait as a suspected cancer pathway.
“The join between the independent sector and the NHS is not perfect and work needs to be done on that.”