BUPA Physiotherapy Tender Process

[Mr Manipulator]

Don't have a problem with contributing - just tell me how and where. But please advise how many of us are viewing all the detail on this site. We need as near as possible to the 6,000 physios contacted by BUPA initially in order to be effective.

[thephysiosvoice]

Well, what a day.....More phone calls from BUPA, more frustration from the CSP and PF. We need them, just as they need us. We only hope they can hear us.

How are the numbers going? Good, massive day on TPV in excess of 1650 hits.

What can you do? Ring 10 local clinics. Arrange to meet up tomorrow or the next day - just for 30 mins. Chat, talk and discuss. Don't "fix", that's naughty!! Write to BUPA or email Jane Gallagher ([email protected]) ask some questions, make sure you get answers before you decide what to do....

The CSP advice remains don't tender. It's an individual thing.....

Spread the Love

TPV
thephysiosvoice.co.uk

[Jill Wigmore-Welsh]

Hi, Good luck with this. There is a meeting in Berkshire on Wednesday evening. All being well we can all have a chat about how we feel. I think there are lots of thoughts on this

[physiobob]

This comment has been posted on behalf of Alison Smith as it was received by direct email

Have been following all the messages with regards to the dreaded BUPA tender process and would like to add my bit but I have failed miserably at being able to register.

In case i can't get registered on time put out a plea for all Physios north of London to get involved as most of the comments come from people in the South. I agree with all I am hearing, and have been educated on quite a few points, especially with the long term effects and the erosion of our professional autonomy, therefore I feel strongly that we should go the way the Ophthalmologist's did. However, if this information is not reaching enough people then I fear there will be alot of Physios signing up to this deal without understanding its full impact. How can we be assured of that with such little time left? Lets all move to Guernsey!

Alison

[andylouise]

Thanks I agree, also North London, been talking with a lawyer today, they have been through similar and hes going to put something together for us to see by 2moro. quickly though we must stick together, remember we are in a strong position as we "provide" and BUPA need us. We can decide to decline the invite to tender in order to negociate more favourable conditions . We must not be pressured by fear of being left out, rushed by their imposed timescales and being weakened by competing with each other, for what? who can undervalue themselves the most! We'll be a long time stuck with the consequences.....

[thephysiosvoice]

TPV has now instructed lawyers, not 1 but 2. Different ones to the CSP and PF.

It's time to press the flesh. Think 6 sessions!! Think of the tax deductions!! Think of our future.....

Are you out there and would you like to contribute? Join us and many, many others. email to [email protected] and we'll get right back to you.

Spread the Love

TPV

[Jill Wigmore-Welsh]

Nuffield Health and VERY strong as I commented on TPV comments box. It wouldn't surprise me if they have a LOT of city backing to get themselves positioned to tender for masses of NHS contract work. One look at their website is enough to show they are well set up to manage "choose and book" and also many local NHS services. Their goal is to have a clinic 20 minutes from everyone in the UK.

On a lateral thinking note

Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps a consideration is the lack of Physiotherapy only insurance avaiable?

After all we have Denplan, and Chiroplan, why no Physioplan?

If anyone knows anyone in the independent insurance development sector surely this is the way forward.
I did look into trying to get an underwriter to set up this very sort of insurance 2 or 3 years ago but couldn't contact the right folk.

If there was an alternative policy for people wanting to reclaim the costs of their Physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation then perhaps it would be another route for us as professionals to promote such a policy to our patients.

I once again reiterate that all these changes have been happening gradually over the past few years, and I really do wonder just what the CSP has been doing with its head apparently stuck under ground unaware of this time bomb.

With regard Physiofirst, all I can say is if they are meant to represent 'private practitioners' and have known that this was coming I think they should all resign.

Radically, my deep down opinion is that this whole debacle requires all Physiotherapists who work OUTSIDE the NHS to reflect on what they get for their CSP and or PhysioFirst membership.

Isn't it time we looked hard at the CSP and asked why they haven't made us aware as a membership that all this is around with companies like Nuffield Health, BUPA, UnumProvident, and the rest ?

I feel let down by the CSP

[Deedee]

I just phoned HSA and there didn't seem to be any change in their requirements just their normal HPC registration etc
Well done to all of you on your great discussion and comments which I am avidly following up in Scotland
I'd like to hear from any other scottish physios out there

[Mr Manipulator]

Gone a bit quiet round here. Is evryone busy tendering?!

[Mr Manipulator]

I see we have new Q&A's from BUPA via PF/CSP. As far as I can see, they are just that, i.e. not changes to the binding terms and conditions.

[JacobI]

I have seen nothing yet that will persuade me to go ahead with the tender; interesting though, that Physiofirst are a little more clear about what they think of it all in their last message. The idea of a 'Physioplan' is interesting, but would need a lot of marketing.
Does anyone know if Bupa Wellness and Nuffield Health are connected in any way?

[Mr Manipulator]

Glad you noticed that, JacobI, the fact that CSP/PF actually expressed their opinion about the tender. I do hope others didn't miss that. It isn't outright direction but surely we can take the hint.

Interesting also to note that, on the other blog - The Physios Voice - a contributor has confirmed that BUPA has informed them that they have only had 'a trickle' of tenders so far.

[kidsphysio]

I telephoned CSP today about something else and then asked how the BUPA tender advice was going, and also if they had a copy of the BUPA contract they could email me as I seem to have mislaid mine. Not much in the way of answers from the receptionist, so I ended the call.

Interestingly I got a call back about an hour later from the CSP head of Policy! Asking what I wanted to know. Mentioned my concerns, as per this thread and stating that I felt I couldn't sign the contract as, apart from all the other concerns, I only treat children and there is nowhere in the contract that this can be clarified. I was informed of todays update from PF/CSP but during the call it was frequently stressed that if I did not tender it would be my decision and there was no guarentee there would be another opportunity later. This was said dispite my saying that I thought that PF & CSP had advised us not to tender yet. Basically I was advised to call BUPA to clarify my position... Still v. unlikely to tender unless the contract can be more specific to my speciality and everyones autonomy.

[physiobob]

After all we have Denplan, and Chiroplan, why no Physioplan?

Payment for musculoskeletal treatment makes up more than half of a company such as BUPA's outgoings. This means that you need to make money elsewhere from the customers who are not accessing physio type treatment. If you had a physio only plan you'd be broke in the first 6 months. This is why it does not exist. We all know patients that feel if they fork out £1000 a year on cover then they are going to try and get £1000+ more back in value for treatment. And if those were just physio specific clients who just love to see their physio each week, where would PhysioPlan be? Not sure anyone would put money into backing that one

[thephysiosvoice]

Afternoon.

TPV has some very, very important news on www.thephysiosvoice.co.uk going live at 3pm.

Keep Spreading that Love

TPV

[andylouise]

Thanks for the letter.we are getting there. I want to say that we need to have insight into the positions of our professional bodies, that they will be being advised as to what they can and cannot state to us without being subject to legal action, in addition to getting legal advice about the process on our behalf. they cannot state it more directly for those reasons BUT the last statement states their positions plainly; that "they fundamentally disagree with it". Thats business speak and actually is strong. hear it as that. They cant be seen to be telling people what to do. the statement is clearly "advised" but they express their position. We as members of the profession can however throw our weight behind our stance as individuals without risk of any breaking of the law and as we are doing so, the csp and physio first may well be saying privately come on, you can do it! It has to come from us. thats the point. I just want those that are so frustrated with them to not alieniate physios that are unsure but then think from the angry posts here that we are just those radical types. As much as the prof bodies represent us their "role" places them in a slightly different place to us. Thats the very nature of their position compared to ours. I hope that people can see the whole with all its parts. We can exercise our choice wisely then. We want time to consult, get advice and deliberate and we needn't be rushed, would you usually sign a contract that someone else had put all the terms to and you hadn't contributed? Do you want a contact at all? we are "independent" providers of valued and necessary skills.We've worked hard for that, keep it that way. Thanks for those working on it, A

[physiobob]

Don't have a problem with contributing - just tell me how and where. But please advise how many of us are viewing all the detail on this site. We need as near as possible to the 6,000 physios contacted by BUPA initially in order to be effective.

The information on this forum and on thephysiosvoice is being sent to our UK database of around 7500 physio's via direct email. It is hoped that those that read it will be discussing it with other physio's and will be emailing it on to them as well. I think therefore we do have a good email alert vehicle going & one which is much wider reaching than PF's. And the collective wisdom of the real issues is coming from these two groups which cannot be said of the brief overview alerts from PF or the CSP. Actually the CSP have sent me nothing via email except to go to their site, login and then read their response. Seems a little backwards and rather annoying that it all that important information hides behind a login/firewall.

[physiobob]

And just received from Physio First

Following some members reporting that Bupa, when contacted, were apparently not adhering to the clarifications that they had given to Physio First, we are having further discussions with Bupa regarding this.

We would suggest that until matters have been made clear that if you have not already, that you refrain from submitting your tender at this time.

We know of no reason why anyone who has tendered and who may wish to alter that tender as a result of any fresher clarification, may not re-submit their tender.

We would expect to be able to report further tomorrow.