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My first year in private practice
Orthopaedic surgeon Mr Krishna Vemulapalli reflects on his first year in private practice at Spire’s Hartswood and Roding hospitals in Essex. He is interviewed here by Spire business development manager Nicola Brown
New law makes life harder for employer
Private doctors who are employers face a fundamental change in discrimination laws. With only three months to go, Phil Allen and David Fagan show what to beware of and how to be getting ready
Toying with design
Independent Practitioner Today offers support for the backbone of your practice with this essential advice lifeline for you, your secretary or admin professional. Advice here is from experienced manager Julie McLean
A life on the PROMs
Will these outcome measures be music to doctors’ ears or will they have to change their tune? Paul Robinson remains upbeat
Sharing quality data
The Hellenic Project has important implications for doctors in private practice. Dr J. J. de Gorter explains
Bulk-buying power
Independent practitioners could be saving money by working with others to form purchasing groups which allow everyone to enjoy lower prices on products they all buy. Clive Horner shares some tips to be aware of
Supercharge your income 100 ways
Increasing numbers of GPs are investigating how to increase their earnings.
Tips on women-power, wine and websites
Turning negatives into positives – Darren Clare gives advice on how to use changes in the healthcare market to your advantage
GP won’t follow the scrip
Independent practitioners often have to consult their defence bodies for answers to a selection of business dilemmas. This month, medico-legal adviser Dr Catherine Wills answers some more questions in our regular series
Making allowances
A chat with your accountant is a must if you’re thinking of buying equipment. For, as Ian Tongue explains, taxable allowances can make a big difference between profit for accounting purposes and your taxable profit
Mattress or markets?
Doctors are frequently losing money by sitting on large sums in very low interest accounts. Indoo Gordon says that a re-think is needed
Couched in terms
You couldn’t work properly without a couch for your patients, but what features should you look for if you are investing in one? Niall Dyer takes you through a quick examination
The feature of success
In the fourth of our six-part series on how to make PR work for you, Jo Hudson discusses how to write and place a feature article
Don’t risk having your tax affairs publicised
The tax authorities in Greece have been naming and shaming doctors for misdemeanours. And it could happen in the UK too, warns Gary Ashford
Sports medicine scores a winner
Consultants and GPs teamed up to enjoy the World Cup in London – and mingle for a bit of business talk at the same time. Robin Stride reports
Summer holiday walk-out
Start preparing your practice now for the summer exodus. Julie McLean has some down-to-earth advice to make holiday times go smoothly
Go to a great deal of expense
Independent Practitioner Today has been full of advice following the launch of the HMRC's Tax Health Plan targeting those who have underpaid tax or overclaimed expenses. But, argues Matthew Watson, don’t be discouraged from claiming legitimate expenses
Testing revalidation in the private sector
AQMAR, the guidance from NHS advisers, must remain a flexible tool in revalidation, according to the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services. Peter Fermoy reports
A shining example to attract investors
When independent practitioner consultants and GPs are thinking big for their future private practice, they will probably need to attract investors. Steve Adkin shows how to go about it by understanding how investors work
Watchdog has you profiled
The Care Quality Commission will use what are known as Quality and Risk Profiles to continually monitor performance in the independent healthcare sector. Richard Hamblin explains
Can they prevent you working for a rival?
NHS consultants with a private practice are running into conflicts with their NHS trusts when they get involved in working for GP provider companies and polyclinics. Solicitor Andrew Lockhart-Mirams gives his advice
To have and to hold for richer or poorer
High earnings and a high divorce rate mean some doctors are going the route of the super-rich and taking out a prenuptial agreement before they marry. Talitha Brookman highlights the areas they should be aware of
Off to a flying start
Our essential series for new starters – that established independent practitioners like to read too – continues with some top tips from Ian Tongue for getting going
HeLLP is at hand
Setting up an limited liability partnership (LLP) is one thing and Independent Practitioner Today’s four-page report last month took a long hard look at the benefits. Here Michael Green looks at how to make your LLP work profitably
Employing your wits to cure office issues
Independent Practitioner Today offers support for the backbone of your practice with this essential advice lifeline for you, your secretary or admin professional. Advice here is from experienced manager Julie McLean
Advice on leaving, joining, retiring
The comings and goings of doctors are in our spotlight this month as Darren Clare answers more business concerns of private doctors
Can I refuse to treat?
Doctors with a private practice often face business dilemmas that force them to consult their defence bodies. The Medical Defence Union’s Dr Emma Cuzner continues our series with two more typical problems encountered by independent practitioners
When patients stalk you
Reporting that a member of your staff is being followed by someone she thinks is a patient is not as easy as it seems, due to the issue of confidentiality
Staunching the loss of blood
There is a growing need to conserve blood and it is now up to everyone to look at ways of preserving it, argues Dorothy Kasibante
Sell your story
In the third of our six-part series on how to make PR work for you, Jo Gulliver discusses how to ‘sell in’ a story to the media
Two years of top advice
We're two years old and growing fast...
Dr Google will see you now
With a survey suggesting that as many as 40% of private practice referrals result from contacts generated via websites, John Langford assesses attitudes to the internet in medicine
The ins and outs of LLPs
Setting up a limited liability partnership is increasingly attractive for many consultants. In this special report, Susan Hutter looks at the advantages and disadvantages of trading your medical practice via an LLP and explores the potential tax benefits
Financial software adds up to savings
Sooner or later, the modern and successful independent practitioner will need to invest in an accounting system. Ian Tongue suggests how to ensure you get the most from it
Costs that erode growth
Doctors who invest should take the temperature of the long-term costs they may have to pay for their funds to be ‘managed’ before they part with their hard-earned money, warns Graeme Urwin
Taxing for take-off
So you’ve registered for the Tax Health Plan with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), but now what? Gary Ashford explains some of the key steps and issues to consider
What to charge and how to hold onto it
Don’t get pilfered. Darren Clare answers more business concerns of independent practitioners to help you keep hold of your hard-earned assets
Revalidation review
Time is running out for independent practitioners to respond to the GMC’s consultation on revalidation. The council’s Kirstyn Shaw provides an update on how the process might work for you
Changing partners
Retiring partners and incoming partners to a practice can both bring a lot of potential legal pitfalls. Solicitor Ros Parkin looks at the issues to be aware of for doctors involved in a business partnership
Busting the marketing jargon
Doctors marketing their business now have to get to grips with a whole new vocabulary. Darren Clare translates the main ones
What should I do?
Business dilemmas in private practice often force doctors to consult their defence bodies for an answer. Dr Udvitha Nandasoma gives his responses to two typical problems encountered by independent practitioners
How do I set up as a freelance PA?
Independent Practitioner Today offers support for the backbone of your practice with this essential advice lifeline for you, your secretary or admin professional. Julie McLean answers just one question this month – but it’s a biggy...
Attractive work
A hospital group has learned some lessons from speed dating, the organised event where prospective romantic partners meet each other through a series of short, one-to-one meetings over tables in a room. Sarah Gillson reports
Molecular imaging: We have the technology
New treatment modalities demand the latest molecular imaging technology. Anita Harte gives an update
Get yourself into the news
In the second of our six-part series on how to make PR work for you, Jo Gulliver discusses the art of writing a press release that will give you maximum publicity
Is your secretary good for your £ealth?
Is your secretary costing you money by the way she is working? Could her behaviour be losing you patients? Find out for yourself by taking part in this Independent Practitioner Today’s self-assessment programme, compiled by Julie McLean
Cash is not the only way to reward staff
You can carry on paying an annual pay award to staff and get locked in to a rising cost spiral. Or, in these tough times, you may want to box clever and think of other solutions. Ian Tongue sets out the options for stretching the pounds further
Toeing the Health and Safety line
‘You can’t do that, Mate – ’elf and safety!’ Solicitor Andrew Lockhart-Mirams looks at the health and safety management responsibilities in the private surgery or clinic, which are a balance between risk and necessity
A vital way to sell yourself
Over the next six issues, Independent Practitioner Today is helping readers to get the most from public relations. Here, Jo Gulliver, a founding partners of healthcare agency specialist Trinity PR, looks at how to make PR work for you and your practice
Green shoots of recovery
This year could be a good time for many doctors to grow their private practices. But make sure you prepare the ground properly first, says Bobby Lane
Don’t forget the NHS
Independent Practitioner Today’s report last month claimed limited liability partnerships could do more to join the ranks of those heading for £1m+ incomes from the NHS’s Choose and Book system. Sally Barr outlines ten things you need to know about C&B
Joint venture means both sides benefit
Hospital group HCA International has set up a new NHS Ventures division and opened its third joint venture cancer centre. Other joint ventures are likely, meaning new opportunities for consultants. Sarah Fisher explains
Injecting a drop of quality assurance
‘Treatments you can trust’ is to be the maxim of the new quality mark scheme for injectable cosmetic treatments, unveiled in last month’s Independent Practitioner Today. Sally Taber explains it here in more detail
When rivals eye up your assets
A group of consultants at the Yorkshire Eye Hospital have entered a new chapter. At the beginning of February, their hospital, was acquired by Optegra Eye Hospitals. We take a look at how others medical practitioners can benefit from their experience
Dealing with rivals
Darren Clare – the 'Business Doctor' – suggests some practical measures to help inject some profitability into your private practice
The post lets us down
Independent Practitioner Today offers support for the backbone of your practice with this essential advice lifeline for you, your secretary or admin professional. Advice here is from experienced manager Julie McLean
How does your secretary shape up?
Check how your secretary scored in our questionnaire entitled 'Is your secretary good for your £ealth?'
Important tax information for subscribers
Medical professionals are being targeted under the HM Revenue and Customs ‘Tax Health Plan’ to ensure they have divulged all their income, writes editor Robin Stride.
Tax Health Plan: latest news and advice
Doctors with a private practice are being advised to contact a good accountant (see our list) if they think they could be among the 800 likely to be targeted for a full tax inquiry by the HMRC.
Accountants to help with HMRC's Tax Health Plan
The HMRC’s Tax Health Plan targeting of independent practitioners for tax has underlined the need for doctors with a private practice to have a good accountant.
Do I need to sign on with the watchdog?
Many independent practitioners are wondering if they will have to register with the Care Quality Commission – and what the fee will be. Here the CQC’s registration boss Linda Hutchinson sets out current plans
Ten questions to ask your accountant
Following two seminars it arranged on saving tax, Independent Practitioner Today has set out the issues on which doctors should get their accountant to protect them against unwanted intrusion by the taxman
Profits Focus, our rolling series of articles and statistics on each specialty, is regarded as the performance benchmark in private practice.
