The PPC (private practice committee) considers and reports on matters of concern to those working in private general and consulting practice.

The committee engages with key stakeholders in private healthcare to represent the views of the profession. This includes private medical insurers, private hospitals providers, royal colleges and specialty associations.

Our priorities

Private medical insurers (PMIs)

The PPC remains very concerned about the actions of some PMIs and their influence on the private healthcare market and has been holding negotiations and policy meetings with PMIs for the last few years to try to address issues raised by members such as the fees assured mechanism, the open referral system and top up fees all of which is affecting patient choice and quality of care. The PPC continues to work hard behind the scenes to restore a more equitable and productive relationship between consultants, patients and insurers.

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

Since the CMA’s 2014 Private Healthcare Market Investigation, which concluded certain features within private healthcare markets were leading to adverse effects on competition, private practitioner fees have been driven down further and further. Unfortunately, current legal advice is that it is entirely lawful for insurers to limit the amount they will pay to a consultant in the same way that they can limit what they are willing to pay to any other supplier.  PPC will work with the CMA on the effect of this on the patient.

Private hospital groups

PPC also hold biannual negotiations and policy meetings with private hospitals groups. The groups negotiate separately with PMIs and their fees have risen every year with inflation but this is not reflected in doctors’ reimbursement. PPC also engages with private hospitals regarding the practising privileges agreements which are often one sided. Doctors build their reputation and the hospitals brand, yet this can be removed summarily.

Private practice campaign

The PPC and the BMA communications team are setting up a campaign to support doctors engaged in private practice. It will look at patient choice, educating doctors about knowing their worth and also work on the re-professionalisation of the medical profession.

BMA Health

The BMA plans to set up a new company called BMA Health. It will aim to establish new private practice management support, restore open market conditions on pricing and fair pay for doctors as well as improve patient choice. 

Private practice conference

PPC hold an annual hybrid conference (virtually and in person at BMA House). It looks at the ‘ins and outs’ of private practice from the logistics of setting up a private practice for the first time to making sure established practitioners reach their maximum potential. All delegates attend the morning plenary session and as part of the afternoon programme, delegates can attend sessions on primary or secondary care. BMA members are eligible for reduced registration fees.

Stakeholder meetings

The PPC will continue to lobby relevant stakeholders to improve terms and conditions for doctors engaged in private practice. The committee will continue to hold meetings with key stakeholders including Private Healthcare Information Network ( PHIN), Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), Association of Anaesthetists, Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations (FIPO), Independent Doctors Federation ( IDF) and Psychiatry-UK.

Resident Doctors

PPC will continue to support resident doctors in the independent sector.

Other Jurisdictions – Isle of Man

PPC continue to engage with situation on the Isle of Man regarding the closure of the private wing at the Noble Hospital which was suddenly announced without prior consultation with colleagues.

Our people

Chair: Dr Jennifer Yell
Deputy Chairs:
Dr Shaima Villait (primary care)
Mr Shanks T K Sankar (secondary care)

Our meetings

The committee three times a year to discuss latest issues affecting private medical practice. These meetings are open to committee members only.

Meeting dates 2025-26:

• Thursday 11 December 2025- 12.30pm-5pm (in person and virtual)
• Thursday 19 March 2026 12.30pm-5pm (Virtual)
• Thursday 2 July 2026 12.30-5pm (in person and virtual)

All our meetings take place either virtually via Microsoft Teams or in person at:

BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP

For more information please email us.

Conference

The next PPC conference will be held on Friday 14 November 2025. Find out more and how to register.

How to join

There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills. 

Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of PPC, these are through elections: 

ARM elections

• Seats/term - every year, elections for one seat on PPC take place for a one-session term.
• Timeline - the nomination period opens a month before ARM, and voting closes a few days after ARM.
• Eligibility - all UK private practice doctors (looking after patients with private medical insurance/self pay patients) who are BMA members can stand for election but only ARM delegates can vote.

Direct elections

• Seats/term - direct elections for the one year team seats (listed below) which take place annually.
• Timeline - information about when elections occur is given in our newsletters. The usual timeline for them is around May, although there have been occasions where this has changed to late April or early June.
• Eligibility -  BMA members who meet the specified criteria for the seats listed below are eligible to stand and vote in these elections: 

Elections

Direct elections for the one year member terms listed below take place annually. Our usual timeline for them is around May, although there have been occasions where this has changed to late April or early June. Information about when elections occur is given in our newsletters.

• Two members who do not provide and/or perform primary medical services under the National Health Service Act 2006 (and/or the equivalent legislation in the devolved nations) and who earn 75% or more of their income from private general medical practice and are engaged in private medical practice to the extent of at least 20 hours per week.
• They will be elected by members who are registered with the BMA as not providing and /or performing primary medical services under the National Health Service Act 2006 (and/or the equivalent legislation in the devolved nations) and are engaged in active private general medical practice.
• Four BMA members who are engaged in consultant or specialist practice under the National Health Service Act 2006 (and/or the equivalent legislation in the devolved nations) and who are also engaged in active private consultant or specialist clinical practice
• Two BMA members who have no NHS contract of employment and who earn 75% or more of their professional income from private consultant or specialist clinical practice and are engaged in active private consultant or specialist clinical practice to the extent of at least 20 hours per week
• Please note that there is a proposed change to the private consultant position which would allow a third BMA member who meet the stated criteria to be elected. This is subject to approval by the Representative Body at ARM. If approved, the first runner up for this seat will be elected as the third member.
• The 20 hours can be waived where a doctor would normally have complied with this requirement but was prevented from so doing by sickness or absence on maternity leave, has a reasonable expectation of returning to clinical practice sufficient to meet the requirement and intends to do so. This exemption is to apply for a period of not more than 12 months and not in two consecutive sets of elections.

Eligibility

You must meet the criteria (outlined above) for each position you wish to stand for. 

You must also be a member of the BMA and a private practice doctor (looking after patients with private medical insurance/self pay patients) to stand and vote in this election

Read the election guide

Get in touch

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the work of the PPC, please email [email protected]