With encouragement from the Government, local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have subcontracted elective procedures to Private Centres, whilst diverting funds away from NHS hospitals. As the race for NHS privatisation intensifies to meet the Government's obsession with targets and numbers, duty of care to patients seems to have been stranded on the start line. According to Northants News, the local PCT had sent patients to a contracted Private Clinic to undergo endoscopic procedures without first verifying whether the clinic was licensed to carry out the procedures. The clinic has been carrying out unlicensed, illegal work since August 2005 until an annual inspection by the Healthcare Commision in February this year. During this five month period, 196 procedures were performed on patients.

PCT chief executive, Kevin Herbert is reported to have said it was the obligation of the clinic to secure the registration. He also added "On August 1, the clinic said they had received the registration. When we discovered they did not have the registration to undertake the work, it was a breach of contract.
"We have terminated the contract for good. Once the new community hospital is up and running we will tender for the provision of these services."

We must ask the question "Is it not the employing organisation's responsibility to their patients to verify all legally required  licenses before giving away contracts?" Surely, there must be someone within the vast management team, who could have visually verified the existence of a license. As doctors, we must provide proof of registration with the GMC along with our passport and Medical diplomas during job selection, we expect and are happy to have this verification process. Patients lives are potentially put at risk when management take each others word during contract talks without proper validation procedures.

PCT Awards Contract To Unlicensed Clinic