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Let experts do the bill chasing
So you’ve still not been paid? Well, sending the invoice is the easy bit. Findlay Fyfe shows why. We occasionally ...
IDF on a Spring advance
By Robin Stride The Independent Doctors Federation (IDF) is surging ahead with a total revamp in its bid to extend its influence and boost services for a fast-growing young membership. Consultants and GPs at its annual general meeting (AGM) on the first day of Spring were told of a 15% increase in members last year […]
When opening day arrives
Creating your own premises Using a case study, Maurice Citron has sketched out some important issues and processes you will need to consider if you decide to acquire, develop and trade from your own clinical property. Now, in the final article of his series, Dr Ian Drever – the entrepreneurial consultant psychiatrist behind the project […]
Groups are a motley bunch
For the benefit particularly of all our new readers, Hempsons solicitor Kirsty Odell looks at limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, expense sharing arrangements and traditional partnerships. Consultants are increasingly joining together to work more collaboratively. This can ease the burden of working alone and being solely responsible for all costs and expenses. Working together […]
The grim days of body-snatching
Medical historian Suzie Grogan delves into the profession’s pressure to obtain corpses for dissection. Obtaining a cadaver for the purposes of dissection had caused considerable hand-wringing in both the legal and medical professions for centuries. As long ago as 1541, the Royal Company of Barbers and Surgeons – the predecessor of the Royal College of […]
NHS grows sub-brands
In our previous issue, Philip Housden analysed private patient revenue growth for 22 NHS trusts across greater London. This was the first in a series, which this month looks at the 17 NHS trusts delivering acute care services to the southern home counties. Analysis of NHS trusts’ 2016-17 annual accounts for this group shows that […]
Be patient with notes
‘Business Dilemmas’ Dr Sissy Frank medico-legal adviser at the MDU, explores the ethics of retaining records after retirement. Dilemma 1 How long must I retain notes for? Q I am a consultant urologist who works in private practice and am hoping to retire later this year. I am unsure what to […]
Off-roader that’s a luxurious cruiser
Our nice car review fella Dr Tony Rimmer meets the oh-so-nice Velar. There is no denying there is a degree of professional competition among independent practitioners. A clinic’s or specialist’s reputation can influence client flow and ultimately the bottom line. Reputations can be earned, but there is also a benefit to being associated with an […]
Financial sunrise
With the new financial year upon us, many doctors may be considering how best to plan and maximise the £££ in their pocket. Susan Hutter gives her guidance Pension contributions Have you used up all your annual allowance for pension contributions? You can go back three years. But the rules around pension contributions have changed. […]
Are you ready for the new data law?
The current law governing the use of personal data in the UK is the Data Protection Act 1998. But, as Independent Practitioner Today highlighted last month, this law will change on 25 May 2018 when the European General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation [EU] 2016/679) will come into effect. Chris Alderson of Hempsons Solicitors reports on […]
The CQC inspector is coming
The Care Quality Commission has now started its compliance inspection programme for private doctors. Martha Walker shows how you can prepare for a happy result. All independent doctors will have undergone a compliance inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) by March 2019. Currently, private doctors do not receive ratings; they are just classed as […]
The li£e-blood of your practice
If cash is king, cash flow is his queen, so it is vital you get your billing and collection in good order to have a successful private practice. Findlay Fyfe shows how. So what exactly is cash flow and why is it so important? The short answer, of course, is that cash flow is the […]