Letter from the Royal College of Anaethetists to BUPA
Dr P Franklin 8 May 2006
Deputy Medical Director
BUPA Health Care Partnerships
Thames Side House
South Street
Staines
Middlesex
TW18 4TL
Dear Dr Franklin
COLLEGE GUIDELINES VISIT – 2 MAY 2006
Thank you for coming to meet with us at the College on Tuesday 2nd May. Since our meeting we have developed some further thoughts related to our discussions.
Your aim was to be ‘assured of quality’. This College has issued guidance both to anaesthetists and to the purchasers of anaesthetic services over quality and we would refer you to the 3 key publications of Guidance for the Provision of Anaesthetic Services, Local Anaesthesia for Intraocular Surgery and our Good Practice document; all can be found in the publications section of our website – www.rcoa.ac.uk
In short these documents depict the standards to which we think providers should aspire, and against which purchasers can measure provision. Most providers and purchasers are within the NHS; others are not but, we believe our documents are also read by independent purchasers and providers.
It is acknowledged that insurers have somewhat different, but nonetheless valid, interests in the quality of care provided for purchase by their subscribers. We are content that you may refer to our publications in any discussions you have or in your own documents, but we must ask that you refrain from construing this as our endorsement of your processes. In addition, while being grateful for sight of your publication ‘Creating an Approved Ophthalmology Network’ we have not been involved in its creation nor have we had the opportunity to pass comment on it, therefore please again note this document cannot be endorsed by us.
Please contact me directly should you have any further questions.
Yours sincerely
Charlie McLaughlan
Director of Professional Standards
Statement from the Association of Anaesthetists.of Great Britain and Ireland
The BUPA Approved Ophthalmology Network
A preliminary response from the Independent Practice Committee of the AAGBI 6th June 2006 Many members will by now have received communication from BUPA Health Insurance about their intention to establish an “Approved Ophthalmology Network”. Consultant Anaesthetists will have been asked by BUPA to complete and return a Quality Assessment Document so that they may be considered as Recognised or Approved Consultants within the Network. The Independent Practice Committee wishes to bring the following points to the attention of AAGBI members.
- Contrary to what has been suggested in communications from BUPA Insurance, the AAGBI does not support the BUPA Approved Ophthalmology Network. Although the AAGBI maintains regular meetings with BUPA Insurance, this topic has not been raised at any of these and the wording of any documents that members receive should not be taken to imply that the establishment of this Network is supported in any way by the AAGBI.
- The AAGBI believes that standards and quality in anaesthesia in the United Kingdom are the prerogatives of professional bodies such as the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The AAGBI does not believe that Private Medical Insurers should take on a primary role in quality assurance and clinical governance.
- The AAGBI is liaising with the British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society (BOAS) and has contacted the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. A definitive statement will be issued in the next two weeks after discussion with these two bodies.
- In the meantime, the Independent Practice Committee of the AAGBI recommends to members that they do not sign or promise to sign the BUPA Ophthalmology Consultant Assessment document or any other document related to the BUPA Approved Ophthalmology Network.
William Harrop-Griffiths
Chairman, IPC