CMA compliance
Specific information about our relationship with consultants, including key charges made by Wells Health and any financial interests in Wells Health held by referring clinicians are set out below.
Compliance with CMA Order 2014
In October 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (the "CMA") published the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014 (the "Order") following its investigation into the private healthcare industry. The Order imposed requirements on private hospital operators to disclose certain information in relation to referring clinicians (as defined by the Order) for the benefit of patients.
Full details about the investigation and the Order can be found on the CMA web page.
The information provided by Wells Health below is required by the Order.
"Higher value" services
The services provided at Wells Health Hospitals to referring clinicians and the amounts charged for those services are set out below:
- Use of consulting rooms: £5 per hour
“Low value” services
The following “low-value” services are also provided to referring clinicians with practising privileges at this hospital:
- General services to ensure clinical safety (e.g. in-house training, chaperones)
- Operational services such as patient bookings/admissions (including payment for consultations), administrative services and billing, and insurance/indemnity cover in respect of NHS patients
- General marketing support, including production of consultant directories, promotional activities, web profiles, etc.
- Basic workplace amenities such as teas/coffees/refreshments, subsidised meals, car parking, stationery.
Corporate hospitality events for referring clinicians
Wells Health is committed to supporting the continued professional development (CPD) of referring clinicians. As part of this commitment we host a range of educational events, including lunch and learn sessions, we also sponsor events held by practice care networks (PCNs) in collaboration with expert clinicians.
Educational content is often tailored to reflect the interests and requests of the clinical community, ensuring relevance and practical value.
These events are strictly educational and are intended to support clinical learning and professional networking. Referring clinicians do not receive gifts or incentives that could be perceived as inducements or contravene anti-bribery regulations.
All hospitality is modest, appropriate, and aligned with industry guidance and ethical standards.
Free mini consultations
Some clinicians at Wells Health choose to offer free mini consultations at their discretion. These are brief, initial meetings designed to help patients understand whether a full consultation and subsequent treatment may be appropriate.
Where available, these mini consultations are clearly advertised as free, and clinicians offering them are identified on their individual web profiles. Patients are informed at the time of booking that, following a free mini consultation, a full paid consultation will be required should they wish to proceed with treatment.
No fee is charged for a mini consultation if the patient decides not to progress.
Clinician financial interests in Wells Health
Private hospital operators are required to disclose details of referring clinicians practising at their facilities, who have a share or financial interest in those facilities or any equipment used there.
Some clinicians own their own equipment in Wells Health. Where a referring clinician has an individual web page profile on this hospital website, relevant financial interests are disclosed there.
For referring clinicians who do not have an individual profile, their financial interests are shown below:
• Mr Mark Cynk owns 100% of a holmium laser used at the hospital. £139,200 per annum including VAT is paid for the use of the holmium laser. Payment is made to Kent Mobile Medical Ltd (Company No. 06777027) of which Mr Mark Cynk is a company director.