Hospital Consultants and Specialist Association Statement
The Hospital Consultants and Specialist Association has also recommended that consultants do NOT sign up to the BUPA approved network.
BUPA Network
At its meeting on Friday 23rd June the HCSA council considered the proposed BUPA ophthalmology network and strongly opposed any move by medial insurers to limit their subscriber’s access to their chosen consultant through the imposition of managed networks. Council therefore advises all consultants not to sign into such networks.
We believe the role of continuing regulation of quality standards in medicine rests with the GMC, Healthcare commission and professional specialist bodies.
Whilst recognising that financial pressures affect the provision of care, the HCSA strongly supports the core values of patient choice and access.
This has been reinforced by the HCSA Council and reported in the HCSA July 06 newsletter:
Reject BUPA networks
At its June meeting, the HCSA Council considered the proposed BUPA Ophthalmology Network and strongly opposed any move by medical insurers to limit their subscribers’ access to their chosen Consultant through the imposition of managed networks. Council therefore advises all Consultants not to sign into such networks.
We believe the role of continuing regulation of quality standards in medicine rests with the General Medical Council, the Healthcare Commission and Professional Specialist Bodies.
Whilst recognising that financial pressures affect the provision of care, the HCSA strongly supports the core values of patient choice and access.
In rejecting the BUPA proposals the HCSA is committed to working with specialty associations and the Federation of Independent Practitioners to bring about a resolution to the current problems.