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| Code for hospitals' patient ads | Code for hospitals' patient ads |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| NHS hospitals are to be allowed to advertise to attract patients for the first time under a marketing code to be published by the Department of Health. | NHS hospitals are to be allowed to advertise to attract patients for the first time under a marketing code to be published by the Department of Health. |
| A draft version seen by BBC News says the NHS needs to give "reliable information" to help patient choice and should not spend too much on ads. | A draft version seen by BBC News says the NHS needs to give "reliable information" to help patient choice and should not spend too much on ads. |
| Unions have said any form of marketing in the NHS is a waste of money. | Unions have said any form of marketing in the NHS is a waste of money. |
| One independent hospital chain, Capio, ran adverts targeted at GPs and health workers from October. | One independent hospital chain, Capio, ran adverts targeted at GPs and health workers from October. |
| The NHS Confederation, which represents health service managers, said it was highly likely that NHS providers would consider similar types of advertising | The NHS Confederation, which represents health service managers, said it was highly likely that NHS providers would consider similar types of advertising |
| The marketing code will not put a limit on the amount of money hospitals can spend, but it is expected to say disproportionate expenditure could effect the reputation of the NHS. | The marketing code will not put a limit on the amount of money hospitals can spend, but it is expected to say disproportionate expenditure could effect the reputation of the NHS. |
| The choice agenda is a big change for the NHS and the public need to have confidence in the system of marketing and advertising NHS Confederation | The choice agenda is a big change for the NHS and the public need to have confidence in the system of marketing and advertising NHS Confederation |
| It is thought it would be up to individual hospitals to decide how much they spend and advertisements would be one way to present the successes of particular hospitals to patients. | It is thought it would be up to individual hospitals to decide how much they spend and advertisements would be one way to present the successes of particular hospitals to patients. |
| A spokeswoman for the NHS Confederation said targeted advertising was a "natural response to the choice agenda". | A spokeswoman for the NHS Confederation said targeted advertising was a "natural response to the choice agenda". |
| She added: "We believe that it is very important that there is a code for marketing and advertising NHS services that is genuinely self-regulating so that all providers can sign up - including NHS trusts, foundation trusts and independent providers. | She added: "We believe that it is very important that there is a code for marketing and advertising NHS services that is genuinely self-regulating so that all providers can sign up - including NHS trusts, foundation trusts and independent providers. |
| "The choice agenda is a big change for the NHS and the public need to have confidence in the system of marketing and advertising." | "The choice agenda is a big change for the NHS and the public need to have confidence in the system of marketing and advertising." |
| This is a natural part of developing a competitive marketplace Capio chief executive Tom Mann | This is a natural part of developing a competitive marketplace Capio chief executive Tom Mann |
| The British Medical Association has said spending money on advertising would mean less money for patient care. | The British Medical Association has said spending money on advertising would mean less money for patient care. |
| Dr Laurence Buckman, a leading member of the BMA's GP committee, said: "Patients want money to be spent on their healthcare, not spent on advertising to doctors so the hospital makes more money. | |
| "The health service is not about making money, it is about delivering care for patients." | |
| Patients are now able to choose, from a limited selection, which hospital they wish to be treated at. | Patients are now able to choose, from a limited selection, which hospital they wish to be treated at. |
| In addition, a new system called payment by results means hospitals will be paid per patient treated. | In addition, a new system called payment by results means hospitals will be paid per patient treated. |
| Capio has a contract to treat about 95,000 NHS patients over five years in nine centres in England. | Capio has a contract to treat about 95,000 NHS patients over five years in nine centres in England. |
| Capio chief executive Tom Mann said: "As a comparatively new provider, we need to use marketing to inform the people who influence patient choice. | Capio chief executive Tom Mann said: "As a comparatively new provider, we need to use marketing to inform the people who influence patient choice. |
| "This is a natural part of developing a competitive marketplace." | "This is a natural part of developing a competitive marketplace." |