UK considers watchdog for private health care

An independent watchdog should be set up to monitor the private and voluntary healthcare industry, proposed a consultation document published last week by the UK NHS Executive (19 June, p 1644). The secretary of state for health, Frank Dobson, led the attack on existing regulatory arrangements, which, he said, “are out of date, unsatisfactory,” and fail to provide “the protection to which the public is entitled.”

The report expressed concern about patient safety in the private sector and identified several key areas where change is needed. It said that establishments wishing to register as recognised private healthcare centres should meet a defined set …