Potential for Growth in PP

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Hi

I posted this on the society site but am not holding my breath.

Published in the May edition of the dental journal "The Probe" Hazel Swain reports the average earnings of dental practices in the UK.

"...with NHS earnings increasing per dentist from £185,800 in 2006 to £191,780 in 2007 and private fee income per dentist from £231,624 in 2006 to £235,175 in 2007 ...".

Of course there are practice costs to deduct from that but there still seems to be a nice wedge in there for someone.

It is now it is possible for pp's to tender for NHS contracts in the same way that dentist do, maybe we should get out act together and become service providers to the NHS.

Luke Hawkins.

 

sounds like a good idea

 

Forget it Luke - not worth the hassle. Besides, podiatry care will be amongst the first front-line services to go when the public service cuts are implemented. How about a dedicated foot health insurance scheme instead?

 

i have heard of some of the podiatric surgens going this! that way they are still covered, and they can charge more because the NHS is paying it! they are also a bit cheaper than the orthapedic surgens, some people say this is why they dont like the podiatric surgens doing surgery!
i like you idea tho! get a few more pennys! i wouldent say no! lol!
thanks
Zuse

 

If you are looking to earn this sort of money I am afraid you are in the wrong profession.
As far as tendering goes, it seems that the NHS are keen to farm out work to the third sector providers who work "not for profit" ..................

Cornmerchant

 

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I don't think the idea is dead, the commissioners have to get the best value for the public. The National tariff for podiatry treatment is £42 per unit (bench mark tariff). Exactly what that means I'm about to find out. But it does look interesting and it might be possible to offer better value.

Commissioners also have to look at whether you can deliver the service, whether you are qualified and experienced enough, whether your premises are suitable and you have the financial experience and wherewithal to actually provide it. The masses of red tape will then be a breeze.

There are others looking in to this too and it might be doable but we have a lot of catching up to do.

Cornmerchant , I'm under no illusion about earning that sort of money, half of it would be nice! lol.

Luke

 

Luke, if you are an SCP member I would contact Employment Relations Department before you invest any time or money into this venture.

To either tender for services or come under "any willing provider" your premises must be Care Quality Commission(CQC) inspected and registered (previously Healthcare Commission). At the moment only Podiatric Surgeons can be CQC inspected and registered. CQC have declared that they have no plans for the time being in inspecting Podiatry premises.

This is a huge stumbling block for Private Practitioners in regular premises unless you can rent a room in a health centre or GP surgery.

It is unlikely that a sole trader would ever be considered suitable for the tendering process. How would you back up time off, sickness, care pathways?

This is so bl**dy outrageously unfair and I doubt that you would get an unbiased opinion from ER. Their primary role is to protect members employment via trade union activity.

GB

 

Things are changing all the time.

The current buzzword(s) is Social Enterprise and I beleive Hull PCT have recently converted to such an organisational structure. Is there anyone from Hull on here that has an opinion on this I wonder?

As I understand it the current PCT system will change so the service is essentially tendered out. The likely organisation that will secure that tender is the existing PCT staff/management just re-organised and rebranded. They will then get that contract for a few years.

It's what happens after a few years that's worrying, there is already a push to reduce the wage bill by examining pay bandings (essentially making them lower) and who knows if the NHS pension will remain as it is. It's already changed for the worse just recently.

Ultimately, feet are feet and they'll need someone to sort them out. I know things withing the NHS have historically been turbulent and a little uncertain but I think the next 5 years is going to see something radically different.

 

i think all "Social Enterprises" to date have failed. Its highly likely that a PCT converting to such whilst trying to carry over all of its existing back-office infrastructure will be too expensive to survive long term. It certainly isnt just a name change on the stationary.

IMHO the purpose of the move is to force the shedding of back-office staff with the dumping of red-tape plus terms and conditions renegotiation with remaining staff. All done at arms length from the Government.

Ironically the small private practice with minimal overheads and that does not implement the red-tape demanded by the public purse is probably the only viable model that can exist and pay a salary to the health-care provider.

Public sector pensions are going to go to a version similar to the private sector. No doubt about that, its all a case of when not if.

 

I was doing some welocome in the intro forum this morning.

A new poster started a poll about HPC and NHS cuts. They mention something about scrapping the HPC.

Thought I would bring it too the UK pods attention. After it may fit which what your discussing now. ?

Heres the link.
http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiatry-forum/showthread.php?t=49541