Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN)

IHPN is excited to announce the appointment of Vicky McNally as its new Director of Regulation! Vicky brings with her almost three decades of senior leadership experience across regulation, governance, quality and risk in independent health and social care. As Director of Regulation, she will lead IHPN’s work on regulation, quality and patient safety, working closely with members and national regulators across the independent healthcare sector. She will start her role at IHPN later this year, succeeding Dawn Hodgkins, who will be leaving the organisation in the autumn. Join us in welcoming Vicky to the IHPN team!

Entries for the Health Service Journal Independent Healthcare Provider Awards 2027 close in one month ⏰ There is still time to put your organisation, team or partnership in the spotlight!   The awards celebrate the people, teams and organisations delivering outstanding care, innovation and impact across independent healthcare.   Don't miss your chance to gain national recognition. Register to enter here: https://lnkd.in/e37-jWNG

The UK’s Healthy Life Expectancy Challenge - How can Independent Healthcare Help? In our latest blog, IHPN’s Director of Policy, Danielle Henry, explores what the Government’s National Quality Strategy for NHS-funded care reveals about the current picture, why the UK is lagging behind, and how the independent sector has a vital role to play in helping improve outcomes.   Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/e-F2iMsT   #HealthyLifeExpectancy #HealthcarePolicy #NHS #IndependentHealthcare 

It is brilliant to see four Independent Healthcare Provider Network members recognised in the HSJ Events Awards 2026 shortlist 🎉   This is a great celebration of the innovation, efficiency and collaboration that independent healthcare organisations bring to the health and care system, including through close working with the NHS.   Well done to Alliance Medical UK, Practice Plus Group, Ramsay Health Care UK and Spire Healthcare Group plc for this well-deserved recognition.   #HSJAwards #IndependentHealthcare #PrivateHealthcare #HealthInnovation #NHSCollaboration #IHPN

The latest NHS Diagnostic Imaging Dataset provides an important snapshot of diagnostic activity across England, but does it tell the full story?   IHPN’s analysis suggests the contribution of independent sector diagnostics providers is significantly underrepresented in the official data. In reality, the sector delivered around 4 million NHS diagnostic scans in 2025/26, over 2.3 million more than is reflected in the published dataset.   Joshua Edwards, Head of Policy (Primary, Community, and Diagnostic Care) at IHPN, explores the findings and what they mean for patients, the private sector, and the future of diagnostics in his latest blog: https://lnkd.in/e6Ybm9W4   #Diagnostics #Healthcare #IndependentHealthcare #MedicalImaging #MRI #CT #PatientCare #HealthPolicy

Timely access to neurodevelopmental assessments is not just about reducing waiting lists, it's about improving lives, supporting employment and ensuring people receive the right care at the right time. With more than one million people now waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment, variation in access and attempts to restrict referrals to independent providers risk creating a false economy. In a new article for Health Service Journal, IHPN's Head of Policy, Sean Phillips, argues that the focus should be on expanding high-quality assessment capacity while creating a more consistent, nationally coordinated approach to care. Our recommendations include: ➡️A national neurodevelopmental service framework with clear standards and waiting time expectations. ➡️National service specifications and transparent tariff pricing. ➡️Consistent shared care and electronic prescribing arrangements. ➡️Better outcomes data and stronger end-to-end oversight of services. The independent sector is already delivering a significant proportion of NHS ADHD and autism assessments, helping patients exercise their right to choose and access care more quickly. The challenge now is ensuring the system supports, rather than hinders, timely access to high-quality assessments. Read Sean's full article in HSJ: https://lnkd.in/eBvEXgEZ

Entries for the Health Service Journal Independent Healthcare Provider Awards 2027 are now open: https://lnkd.in/enfG8QQE Independent providers are playing an increasingly critical role in delivering NHS care and improving access for patients across the UK. These awards recognise that contribution and provide a national platform to showcase the organisations delivering real impact across services, pathways and communities. Any independent healthcare providers that offer services free at the point of care to NHS patients, in any setting are eligible to enter. This can be either independently or in partnership with NHS organisations. #IndependentProviders #HSJAwards #UKHealthcare #ClinicalExcellence

Could workplace healthcare schemes become part of the answer to getting Britain working again?   With long-term sickness continuing to drive economic inactivity, there is growing recognition that employers have an important role to play in supporting workforce health alongside the NHS and government.   In our latest blog, our Director of Policy Danielle Henry explores how workplace healthcare schemes are evolving from being seen as an employee benefit to becoming an investment in workforce wellbeing, productivity, and economic growth.   Read the full blog on our website: https://lnkd.in/dRNrZ35k   #Healthcare #WorkforceWellbeing #KeepBritainWorking #IndependentHealthcare #OccupationalHealth #EconomicGrowth

A huge congratulations to three Independent Healthcare Provider Network members for being recognised in Great Place To Work's Best Workplaces for Women 2026 list!   This fantastic achievement celebrates organisations that are creating inclusive and supportive workplaces where women can reach their full potential.   It also highlights the amazing work the independent healthcare sector is doing to uplift women in the workforce while delivering brilliant patient care. Check out IHPN’s workforce report to learn more about how the independent sector are making strides in supporting great careers for women: https://lnkd.in/exgXS9u5   Well done to SpaMedica, Newmedica and Specsavers for this well-deserved recognition! #WomenInHealthcare #IndependentHealthcare #WomenInLeadership

New Government, same problem? Where next for NHS elective recovery? While we have a new Prime Minister and Health Secretary, they face a health service still grappling with record demand and millions of patients waiting for treatment. In the latest edition of our NHS Electives Insight series, IHPN’s Head of Acute Care Policy John Hopgood takes a look at what the latest NHS data tells us about the NHS’ elective recovery and the sector’s contribution in cutting the backlog. Ultimately, the waiting list will only fall sustainably if the NHS consistently treats more patients than are being added to it, so it was welcome to see NHS activity was up by 1% in April when compared with the same period last year. However, to hit the 18-week standard – both the interim target in March 2027 for 70% of patients to be treated within this timeframe and the overall goal of 92% by March 2029 - that growth in activity needs to be greater, and it needs to be sustained. The independent sector will be key to this. Waiting times within the independent sector are still, on average, lower than for NHS providers, and patients waiting for treatment will care far less about who provides their care than how quickly they can receive it. Activity data from previous years clearly demonstrates that the sector can do more than it is currently being asked to – potentially as much as an additional 15-20% based on growth in previous years. As the new ministerial team establishes its priorities, there is a real opportunity to ensure existing NHS-funded capacity is used to its full potential, particularly ahead of what is likely to be another challenging winter. You can read the blog in full here: https://lnkd.in/e5CHP7pS