Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN)

Last week we held our latest IHPN & CQC Patient Safety Conference, bringing together over 150 clinical and safety leads from across the independent sector to explore “Safety and Quality First: Leading Care Through Change”.    Thank you to all who attended, and make sure to read IHPN Director of Regulation Dawn Hodgkins's reflections on the event and why it's so important to bring members together to discuss, share, and learn about Patient Safety

We were delighted to attend today’s LaingBuisson Private Healthcare Summit, where our CEO David Hare MBE spoke about the partnership between the NHS and the independent sector, including insights from our recent Industry Barometer exploring how senior leaders from more than 50 independent providers view the key opportunities and challenges facing the sector. IHPN Head of Policy John Hopgood also joined a panel discussion on how greater interoperability and better use of technology could help strengthen integration across the health system. It was also great to catch up with a number of our members exhibiting at the event, including Perci Health, Psychiatry UK and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions. Link to our Industry Barometer in the comments below.

Last week, our CEO David Hare MBE, Head of Patient Safety & Quality Governance Linda Jones, and Head of Policy (Primary, Community and Diagnostic Care) Joshua Edwards were delighted to visit one of our newest members Evergreen Life in Salford.    Evergreen Life and Omnes Healthcare (their primary care arm) run a number of GP practices, providing community diagnostics and dermatology services. They have also developed the Evergreen Life app, where users can build a fully accurate up to date health record, and it was great to hear more about their vision for putting patients at the centre of decisions about their data and how its managed and shared.   Thank you to Evergreen Life Founder/Executive Chair Stephen Critchlow, CEO Caroline Shaw, MD for NHS Services John Ashcroft, and MD for Primary Care Solutions Lynn Moffat for hosting the IHPN team!

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at our 7th Annual IHPN & Care Quality Commission Patient Safety Conference!   It was a packed room with over 150 delegates from across the sector taking part in some wide ranging conversations on all things safety and quality. This year’s theme was “Safety and Quality First: Leading Care Through Change,” and explored the regulatory and technological developments shaping how we deliver, measure and improve care with sessions covering a range of issues from AI to updates on the CQC’s Assessment Framework, Patient Recall to PSRIF.   Thank you to Capsticks for their support of the event, as well as to our keynote speakers, Dr Toli Onon, Robbie Burns, Prof Henrietta Hughes, and Prof Aidan Fowler, and you can hear from IHPN’s Dawn Hodgkins with some of the highlights from the day below

Our 7th IHPN & Care Quality Commission patient safety conference has kicked off! We’re bringing together over 150 people from across the entire industry to discuss the latest regulatory and technological developments shaping patient safety and quality, with the opportunity to hear from expert speakers, and engage in collaborative workshops. Thank you to Capsticks LLP for their support of the event.

This week, IHPN's Director of Policy Danielle Henry and Head of Policy (Primary, Community and Diagnostic Care) Joshua Edwards were delighted to visit Amethyst Radiotherapy UK at their Queen Square Centre in London.   The Centre specialises in delivering highly innovative "Gamma Knife" treatment for NHS patients who have cancer or tumours in the brain – delivering highly focused radiotherapy which limits damage to healthy tissue, as well as reducing treatment times for patients.    There are only seven of these Gamma Knife machines in the country and Amethyst is playing a key role in supporting the Government’s recent National Cancer Plan – helping ensure that growing numbers of patients with an urgent suspected cancer referral can start their treatment within 62 days of a referral.   Thank you to Amethyst Radiology CEO Sasha Burns, Clinical Services Manager Rhonda Watson, Commercial Director Candice Martin, and the rest of the team at Queens Square for hosting Danielle and Josh!

This International Nurses Day, we are shining a light on just a few of the incredible nursing professionals that work in the independent healthcare sector. HCRG Care Group shared the story of Rebecca McGowan, their National Head of Safeguarding. "I began my career as a Registered Nurse and later qualified as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, which shaped my passion for protecting and supporting children, young people, and vulnerable individuals. In my current role, I provide strategic leadership for safeguarding across the organisation. This includes ensuring strong governance, supporting teams to deliver safe and effective care, and embedding a culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. I work closely with colleagues across services to manage risk, support complex cases, and continuously improve practice. What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to make a difference at both an individual and system level. Safeguarding is about people, and I find it rewarding to know that the work we do helps keep individuals safe, supports families, and empowers colleagues to do their best work. I’m especially passionate about creating environments where colleagues feel confident, supported, and able to speak up. Like many roles in safeguarding, there are challenges. The work can be complex and emotionally demanding, and it often involves navigating difficult situations and making high-stakes decisions. However, I am driven by a strong sense of purpose and the knowledge that what we do truly matters. For me, safeguarding is at the heart of healthcare – it’s about ensuring people are safe, heard, and protected. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a profession that makes such a meaningful difference every day.” 

This International Nurses Day, we are shining a light on just a few of the incredible nursing professionals that work in the independent healthcare sector. Ramsay Health Care UK shared the story of Zöe Law, a Student Nurse at Park Hill Hospital in Doncaster. "For the past 12 years, I have been proud to work at Park Hill Hospital, where I started as a Healthcare Assistant. My role progressed to a Nursing Associate and now a Student Nurse has allowed me to support patients throughout every stage of their healthcare journey. My daily work involves close collaboration with patients, colleagues, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that everyone feels welcomed, informed, and genuinely cared for. My motivation for pursuing a career in nursing comes from a long-standing desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, particularly during moments when they may feel vulnerable or unsure. Providing reassurance, compassion, and practical support is something I find deeply fulfilling. I recognise that coming into hospital can be an anxious experience for many individuals. Because of this, I make it a priority to listen attentively, offer clear explanations, and create a calm, friendly environment. By being approachable and taking the time to understand each patient’s concerns, I aim to help them feel more comfortable and confident during their visit. Seeing a patient leave feeling more at ease—or hearing that I have helped make their experience less stressful—is incredibly rewarding. Those small moments of gratitude remind me why this work is so meaningful. One of the highlights of my career has been completing my Nursing Associate degree and continuing my professional development through my current Nursing degree with Ramsay. This achievement has been significant both personally and professionally, and it continues to motivate me to grow, learn, and provide the highest standard of care. What brings me joy at Park Hill Hospital is the strong sense of teamwork and the genuine relationships built with both patients and colleagues. No two days are the same, and it is a privilege to be part of a workplace where people truly care for people."

Earlier this week, IHPN Chief Executive David Hare MBE and IHPN Head of Policy Sean Phillips visited Nightingale Hospital in Central London, who provide assessment and treatment to private adult patients for mental health conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorders, eating disorders and addictions.   They had the opportunity to hear from Nightingale’s senior leadership team about their current, high-quality service offering for patients, about their proposals to enhance their hospital estate and their plans for growth in the coming years. David and Sean also were able to visit Nightingale’s newly refurbished Acute Inpatient Ground Floor Ward, which offers patients thoughtfully designed, safe, smart technology-enabled and therapeutic spaces during their stay. Thank you to the Nightingale team for organising the visit!

We're only one week away from our annual IHPN & CQC Patient Safety & Quality Conference! This year’s theme “Safety and Quality First: Leading Care Through Change” focuses on the regulatory and technological developments shaping how we deliver, measure and continuously improve care. With contributions from experts and sector leaders, the conference will give members the opportunity to hear the latest insights, research, and practical approaches to further advance patient safety across the independent sector. We have a fantastic line-up of speakers and breakout sessions planned throughout the day, including ⚫ Professor Aidan Fowler, National Director of Patient Safety at NHS England ⚫ Professor Henrietta Hughes OBE, Patient Safety Commissioner for England ⚫ Dr Toli Onon, Chief Inspector of Hospitals at the Care Quality Commission   This event is always a highlight of our calendar, and we’re looking forward to bringing together patient safety experts, regulators, senior clinical leaders, and patient representatives to look at how we can enhance safety across the healthcare system. Thank you to Capsticks LLP for their support of this event.