Consultants are a vital part of One Healthcare Hospitals. However in common with most private healthcare operators, we do not employ Consultants. Consultants working in our hospitals are self-employed practitioners who choose to see and treat patients at our hospitals under the terms of our ‘practicing privileges’ policy.
Higher Value Services
We charge consultants (and other healthcare professionals such as dieticians and podiatrists) for using consulting rooms at our hospitals. The charge applicable at One Ashford Hospital is £17 per hour.
Lower Value Services
We provide a number of support services to our consultants, for which we do not make a charge. These include:
Insurance to cover the risk of a claim from or in relation to an NHS patient. Part of our Practicing Privileges policy dictates that Consultants working in our hospital must have appropriate insurance or other arrangements in place at their own cost to cover the risk of a claim from a patient with private medical insurance or who has paid for their treatment themselves.
Support with patient admission and billing
Free tea and coffee making facilities are available as well as subsidised on-site meals from our staff restaurant. We also offer free car parking for all staff, patients and visitors.
General marketing such as consultant directories and general promotion events
General corporate hospitality
Some consultants provide advice or other support to us and our hospitals for which they are not paid. An example of this is our Hospital Medical Advisory Committees (MAC), which meet at least once every other month. Refreshments are provided for these meetings at no charge.
We also arrange training and information events for consultants and local GPs. These prove an excellent way to enhance GPs’ understanding and knowledge about our hospital and some of the specialist services we provide there. No payments are made to GPs or consultants for attending, although refreshments are provided and we sometimes use (and pay for) external venues when there is insufficient space for this type of event at the hospital.
Sometimes we also hold networking events for our GPs and consultants which may be held off-site (at a restaurant or sports game).
Some hospital or corporate managers may also invite consultants to discuss options for developing the hospital and these may be held over dinner.
Financial Interests
None of our consultants have financial interests in equipment used or services and facilities operated within our hospital.
One Ashford
One Hatfield