Patients For Profit?
Another blog courtesy of an informed Tweep!
Since 2009 following Stafford Hospital’s prominence in the media, there has been a flood of compensation claims made through medical negligence firms. Last year alone saw the NHS put ‘aside’ a staggering £22.7 billion, up 20% from previous year.
The total figure is obscene, but worst of all are the profits made from the misfortunes of patients; of course the legal profession spring to mind as reported here
However I wish to look at the role of ‘patient groups’. It might be assumed that patient groups are set up by well-meaning campaigners who were patients or represent patient, to offer support to all those in need for altruistic reasons. However this may not always be the case.
Julie Bailey founder of Cure The NHS formed a company called “Cure The Health” on the 14th March 2013, which has two directors; Ms Julie Bailey and Mr James Duff, equal ‘shareholders’ of the Ltd Company. Unfortunately this company is now in the process of being ‘struck off’ before accounts were submitted and therefore we will not know the extent of any profits made.
Cure The NHS itself is not documented anywhere as a ‘legal entity’ however on its website it asks for public donations. This could confuse people who may believe it is a registered charity-it is not!
I have discovered another ‘patient group’ called “Patients First” @PatientsfFirst UK. Patients First was founded by Whistle Blowerand campaigner Dr Kim Holt and the website states:
“Our purpose is to reduce death and harm in the NHS by campaigning for the UK Government to create policies and laws that ensure the NHS becomes open and accountable and we will actively support all those who raise concerns about patient safety”.
The site registers its “Supporters” as
Both of these organisations have links with ‘Cure The NHS’
AvMA was also heavily involved with the Mid Staffs enquiry:
AvMA presented awards to Julie Bailey and Dr Kim Holt:
Also another award goes to:
All very cosy and a little strange. Patients Firsts URL address suggests that it’s a charity and indeed it asks for public donations:
However, all is not what it seems. Just like the previous ‘patient group’, Patients First is also a Limited Company.
The two directors are Dr Kim Holt, also sole shareholder, (@drkimholt) and Mr Roger Kline (@rogerkline ). Dr Kim Holt lists her occupation as “Doctor” and Mr Kline lists his as “Employment Consultant”.
So we have a company that by all appearances looks like a charity; uses a charity URL and asks for public donations but yet it is a profit making company! Unless there are two separate entities this seems contrary to charity law (cf Amnesty International which has split), and there is a legal obligation to state this. Neither Patients First nor Cure the Health appears to be ‘Community Interest Companies’.
What are medical negligence law specialists AvMA and Leigh Day and Co connected with ‘patient groups’? There are multiple connections between all these entities, with no scrutiny of the Conflicts of Interest created. Perhaps it’s time for an ‘inquiry’ into these ‘patients groups’!
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