2 minute read
ENERGY AND INNOVATION
David Hare, Chief Executive, Independent Healthcare Providers Network, NHS Confederation
London never stands still. The ancient city constantly renews itself. From our 15th-fl oor o ces I can see literally dozens of cranes, hard at work building the London of tomorrow. It is this sense of energy and innovation built on old foundations that makes London such an exciting place in which to live and work.
I have the privilege to lead the trade association for independent sector healthcare providers. The independent sector in the UK complements the huge strengths of the state-run system to deliver great care to patients from both the UK and overseas. And, like London itself, the independent health sector never stops changing and innovating, even though it is built on a heritage that goes back centuries.
Our members include some of the most-established and best-regarded private hospitals in the country, but we also represent exciting newcomers to the sector. What all our members have in common is the shared desire to deliver the best possible care and service – with investment and clinical innovation hallmarks of the whole sector.
London’s independent health sector is a clinical community at the cutting edge of modern medicine. Leading physicians and surgeons work in fantastic facilities and with the best equipment to deliver diagnosis and treatment of unparalleled quality. There is a real focus on delivering individualised care based on the latest advances in clinical knowledge and medical technology.
This individualised approach is refl ected in the service ethos that runs through the whole sector. London’s independent hospitals are places where patients from around the world receive a level of service that supports them and their family through their clinical journey. International patients receive dedicated support, helping them make the right decisions for their care at every step of the way.
London is not just a destination of choice for patients, but for clinical sta too. The reputation of the sector and the attractions of London itself mean that the best clinicians from all around the world choose to work within the city’s independent healthcare providers. And it is not just doctors and nurses, but the whole teams of skilled healthcare professionals, that contribute to the great care delivered in the sector. The clinical workforce present in London truly makes the UK capital a special place to receive care.
London’s independent health sector brings together providers that refl ect the city’s past and present – long-established, but with an innovative, dynamic, modern outlook. Those providers deliver world
class care, thanks to the presence of leading clinicians and support sta , and the foundation of some of the best healthcare facilities in the world.
Of course, London is not just a place to receive treatment. The vibrant cultural and economic life of one of the world’s true global cities means that London continues to be a destination of choice for patients and their families. The opportunity to receive treatment while also enjoying all the wider benefi ts of this great city mean that London has formidable strengths in a competitive global market. I’m confi dent that the independent sector will continue to rise to the challenge of delivering great care to patients from all around the world. London's independent health sector refl ects the past and present of the city, building on a centuries-old heritage, and includes private patient facilities at National Health Service hospitals (PHOTO: THE ROYAL MARSDEN)
