There is now more information available to people considering private healthcare than ever before, following the publication of new data about serious injuries.
London, 15 March 2022: There is now more information available to people considering private healthcare than ever before, following the publication of new data about serious injuries.
The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) – an independent organisation with a government mandate to make private healthcare more transparent – has released the figures as part of its role to support people considering private healthcare with information about safety, quality and costs.
The statistics published today show there were 21 instances where patients sustained serious injuries while receiving private treatment across the UK during the 12-months up to the end of September 2021. A total of 734,000 people across the UK received private healthcare treatment in this time.
These injuries relate to the most serious incidents which are reportable, by law, to health regulators such as the Care Quality Commission. These are defined as permanent injuries to a patients’ bodily, sensory, motor, physiologic or intellectual functions, and may include injuries such as permanent damage to vision or nerves, removal of the wrong limb or organ, or brain damage.
Patients can now search for this information on PHIN’s website, alongside support and guides to help patients decide which provider is best for their care.
PHIN’s Chief Executive, Matt James, said:
“The availability of good data is vital to learning and improvement, and this publication represents another step toward real transparency on safety and outcomes. It is too early to draw any meaningful conclusions from comparisons between providers or with the NHS.
“We applaud those hospitals that have provided complete data, and encourage those who have not to do so. As a patient, I would insist on being treated in a hospital that reports openly on its care and can show how data is used to improve safety and quality. It is easy to find those hospitals on PHIN’s website.”
