Private patients
Fri 4 Jul 2025 08:30-17:00
Royal Free Hospital London, 6 CPD hours

Take your meetings off of Teams and into reality at this National Networking Forum hosted by The Royal Free London Private Patients Unit

Against the backdrop of the prestigious Royal Free Hospital; this annual, topical conference will give you an unrivalled opportunity to strategise with like-minded colleagues, benchmark your current service provision and identify approaches to develop workable plans for the future. 

Sponsored by Streets Heaver, Pharmacierge and Patient Billing

    

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NHS Private Patients National Networking Forum
Face-to-face 6 CPD hours From £199+VAT

Hosted by the Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; network with PPUs from across the country

Purposefully designed to spark conversation and generate new ideas, discover important information on how to improve your tariff agreements, strategise on how you can maximise your revenue and drive forward change with insurance providers. Don’t wait, book your place today to:

  • Quiz insurance providers on how they plan to improve the experience of patients and PPUs
  • Strengthen your PPU's visibility both internally and externally to increase revenue
  • Streamline billing, insurance processes, and reporting to optimise income
  • Discover digital solutions currently improving PPUs, from automated patient updates to reducing paper-heavy processes
  • Learn from leading NHS and private hospitals on running a successful and sustainable PPU
  • Benefit from inspirational panel discussions designed to encourage new ideas to grow your PPU

Plus, there is a great opportunity to be part of the interactive tour of the Royal Free Hospital London top floor unit

Tackle the challenges of silo working by collaborating with professionals from across the country

Share with like-minded members of the PPU community, business consultants and the wider insurance industry through active participation in panel discussions, presentation forums and networking:

  • Meet the insurers: hear upcoming plans from leading insurance providers and ask your questions during the panel discussion. Plus, benefit from dedicated table discussions to talk through your specific case examples.
  • Case study-based presentations: learn from colleagues from across the country who have developed new strategies to boost their PPUs for 2025
  • Market analysis: benefit from a whole market perspective to deepen your understanding of the national picture of PPUs
  • Facilitated discussion sessions: Network with colleagues and find out how other services have gone about generating new business. Profit from lessons learnt and new ways to create more space for private patient activity

With thanks to our sponsors

SBK would like to thank Streets Heaver, Pharmacierge and Patient Billing for sponsoring this Private Patient conference.

How to get involved: join us as a sponsor

SBK Healthcare Forums are designed to enable industry providers to support healthcare professionals. We are pleased to be inviting sponsors for this forum. If this is something you would be interested in exploring please email Vanessa Pearce or call Vanessa on 01732 897788 to find out about all the engagement and branding opportunities available in the full sponsorship package.

8:30
Registration and networking opportunity
9:00
Instructions and chair’s opening remarks
Dean Stephen, Managing Director, Royal Free London Private Patients Unit
9:10
Opening discussion: Shrinking NHS waiting lists and navigating the dilemma for PPUs
  • What is your current PPU capacity like? When are you able to conduct private patient activity?
  • How are you gaining access to space whilst providing care for the hospital’s NHS patients?
  • Have you been able to expand your activity this year? How did you go about this?
Royal Free Hospital behind the scenes
9:30
Insights into the PPU processes, boosting efficiency and functioning as a team
  • The Royal Free PPU building blocks: showcasing the team, functions and roles
  • Managing your PPU whilst navigating the pressures of high NHS waiting lists
  • Key elements that enable smooth, patient first service delivery within the PPU pathway
Dean Stephen, Managing Director, Royal Free London Private Patients Unit
Managing tariffs and contract negotiation
9:55
Optimising PPU tariffs: Enhancing revenue, compliance and competition
  • Strategies for pricing: tackling price sensitivity, how to price and where to start
  • Recognising your market: how to manage and benchmark tariffs for your service to ensure you remain competitive
  • Approaching the insurance negotiation process: strategy to reduce inefficiencies
10:20
Questions and answers with your speakers
Easing day-to-day operations
10:30
Sponsored presentation delivered by Streets Heaver
An award-winning & secure healthcare software provider to Hospitals across the UK, including 19 of the top 20 earning NHS PPUs. Our #1 Private Patient Billing & Administrative Aolution, Compucare®, seamlessly integrates with your hospital PAS to maximise accuracy and efficiency.
10:35
Pharmacierge: A proven analgesic for the pain points of private prescription management
  • Pharmacierge is the e-prescribing service chosen by private clinicians to deliver medication to their patients throughout the UK. Clinicians create and transfer e-prescriptions to our pharmacy near Harley Street, for free medication delivery to their patients.
Edward Ungar, CEO, Pharmacierge
10:45
Sponsored presentation delivered by Patient Billing
  • Richard Shawyer, Managing Director, Patient Billing
Patient Billing provide a fast, secure, personal medical billing & collection service for healthcare professionals in the private sector including consultants, groups & hospitals. Reduce admin time, protect your patient relationships and improve cash flow.
10:55
Panel questions and answers
11:10
Networking break and opportunity to meet the exhibitors
Maximising your growth opportunities
11:30
Enabling amenity beds for in-pathway NHS patients to boost revenue
  • Creating an in-hospital option to enable a pathway to private services
  • Navigating the challenges of marketing to in-pathway NHS patients
  • Managing the administration of amenity charges to uninsured patients
11:55
Our journey from a single poster to an integrated multi-channel campaign: building an NHS PPU marketing strategy
  • Building the foundations for success
  • Making the most of what you already have
  • Developing direct marketing channels to members of the public
  • Optimising the conversion journey from interest to booking
Gemma Jackson, Head of Marketing, and Clare Feasby, Associate Director for Marketing and Communications, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
12:20
Case study: Developing 79 Wimpole Street Consulting Rooms and Diagnostic Centre
  • Managing 79 Wimpole Street: organising consultants and operational responsibilities
  • Launching the St John’s Dermatology Clinic: our journey to establishing the clinic
  • Developing new service: building a business case and managing your team
Augustus Mohan, Private Patients Business Development Manager, Private Patients Business Development Manager
12:45
Setting your service apart: Marketing panel discussion questions and answers, including:
  • Dean Stephen, Managing Director, Royal Free London Private Patients Unit
  • Gemma Jackson, Head of Marketing, Moorfields Private, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Augustus Mohan, Private Patients Business Development Manager, Private Patients Business Development Manager
  • Emma Aherne, Private Patient Manager, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Discuss your marketing strategies, challenges and solutions with your panel of speakers, compered by Philip Housden, Managing Director of Housden Group
1:00
Networking Lunch and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust PPU Tour
In small groups, take the opportunity to tour the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust private patient unit.
Collaborative working with professional bodies
2:20
From CMA compliance to value: Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN)
  • Deep dive into the CMA Private Healthcare Market Investigation
  • Using compliance to maximise private patient bookings and revenue
  • Making use of data to improve services and patient safety
Megan Dunaway, Hospital Engagement Lead, Private Healthcare Information Network
2:35
Delivering an effective complaints process for improved patients and PPU outcomes
  • Managing an effective, patient focused complaints procedure
  • Exploring the journey of the compliant: how can we see the benefit?
  • Evaluating the benefits of subscription for effective case-by-case complaint handling
Vivienne Heckford, NHS Private Patient Unit Lead, Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS)
2:50
Questions and answers with your speakers
Meet your insurers
3:00
Panel presentation: Negotiating contracts with Private Insurance Companies
  • Are PMIs willing to assess an NHS hospital differently to private hospitals?
  • Insightful advice on tactics and legal structures for working effectively with Medical Insurers
  • Price, volume and networks: how NHS PPUs can set up good working practices
Matthew Cox, Hospital Relationship Manager, AXA Health
3:20
Panel questions and answers: Sharing insurers’ business focus for 2025/2026
3:40
Afternoon networking break and ‘drop-in’ meetings with the insurers
Your insurance representatives will remain at their table throughout the afternoon break to enable you to drop in and ask your specific questions.
Private hospital insight: building business
4:00
Operating a Private Patient Hospital and investigating Private Patient processes
  • Understanding the business model and operating a private hospital
  • Managing administration tasks: booking appointments, invoicing and patient outcomes
  • Building relationships, managing the consultant pool and marketing services
4:25
Case study: Merging with an independent hospital and becoming a new unit
  • Exploring the model: executing strategic change and boosting revenue
  • Overcoming early implementation challenges and managing local competition
  • Evaluating the impact and measuring success: what has been working well
Simon Milner, Hospital Director, Sulis Hospital Bath
4:50
Questions and answers with your speakers
5:00
Closing remarks and close of day

Attend this unique day to learn from a leading panel of expert speakers

Now in it’s 10th year, this annual conference is taking place at a pivotal time for PPUs. Benefit from evidence based content delivered by members of the NHS PPU community, plus additional industry-based speakers including: 

Dean Stephen
Job Title:
Managing Director
Organisation
Royal Free London Private Patients Unit
Biography
Gemma Jackson
Job Title:
Head of Marketing
Organisation
Moorfields Private, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Biography

Gemma has been head of marketing at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 2020. She leads the marketing, new patient, and referrals functions at Moorfields Private. During that time, she has delivered the implementation of customer relationship management systems, a new call handling process, multi-channel marketing campaigns for both B2B and B2C audiences, and a new website. Key milestones at Moorfields Private include the opening of a new central London location in 2022 and the launch of the rapid access and urgent care service in 2021.

Prior to working at Moorfields, Gemma was the marketing manager for global health at BMJ where she led the marketing programme for a pandemic preparedness and extremely dangerous pathogen programme in seven countries. For six years, she was the marketing manager for Private Care at The Royal Marsden. Gemma also has experience in marketing in the charity and housing association sectors.
Augustus Mohan
Job Title:
Private Patients Business Development Manager
Organisation
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Biography
Philip Housden
Job Title:
Managing Director
Organisation
Housden Group
Biography

Philip is a specialist healthcare sector management consultant with over 25 years industry experience.

He established Housden Group in 2006. Its’ primary aim was, and still is, to support both private and public sector clients in achieving optimal commercial growth, by designing and building innovative, yet pragmatic commercial solutions.

Housden Group has delivered a wide range of successful projects for over twenty NHS Trust Private Patient Units (PPUs). Its’ services include strategy and market reviews, performance turnaround, the launch of new services and business cases for development.

As well as managing several major projects and organisational issues through business case approval and bid wins, Philip also supports hospital consultant and GP groups and other clinically-led organisations on commercial development and service change.

Philip is the PPU Correspondent for Independent Practitioner Today and writes a regular column. He was Inaugural Consultant Editor of the British Journal of Health Care Management and past Chair of the Henley Alumni ‘Healthcare Special Interest’ Group.

Philip is presently leading the creation of a PPU 'chain' founded on Trusts in Essex.

For further company details and case studies visit: www.housdengroup.co.uk and https://www.linkedin.com/company/housden-group
Megan Dunaway
Job Title:
Hospital Engagement Lead
Organisation
Private Healthcare Information Network
Biography

Megan leads the Hospital Engagement team who support hospitals in achieving full compliance with their requirements under the CMA Order. Megan has 14 years’ experience in the healthcare sector with a variety of experience across stakeholder engagement, operations, and business development.

Megan joined PHIN in 2019 from HCA Healthcare where she led Customer Operations and Business Development functions within the pathology division. Prior to working in the private healthcare sector, Megan studied Nursing in Glasgow.
Clare Feasby
Job Title:
Associate Director for Marketing and Communications
Organisation
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Biography
Vivienne Heckford
Job Title:
NHS Private Patient Unit Lead
Organisation
Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS)
Biography
Matthew Cox
Job Title:
Hospital Relationship Manager
Organisation
AXA Health
Biography
Richard Shawyer
Job Title:
Managing Director
Organisation
Patient Billing
Biography
Simon Milner
Job Title:
Hospital Director
Organisation
Sulis Hospital Bath
Biography

Simon joined Sulis Hospital in October 2021 following a career in the Independent Sector including Hospital Director positions in Nottingham, Worcester and Bristol as well as COO at HCA’s The Wellington Hospital, London. Simon has a clinical background (Intensive Care nursing), having trained in Bristol, holds an MBA and has practised as Head of Clinical Services in hospitals in both Australia and the UK. He has run his own business in the healthcare sector for 6 years as well as worked in interim roles across the NHS and Independent Sector gaining invaluable experience in the management of numerous organisations.

The opportunity to develop a site in conjunction with Royal United Hospitals Bath, and ultimately contribute to the wider BaNES and surrounding area is unique. Working in collaboration with the Trust, primary care providers and ICBs, Simon believes that Sulis has the opportunity to be a key contributor to the healthcare environment.

Good governance, safe and efficient care and the delivery of an outstanding service to all who come in contact with Sulis is paramount.
Edward Ungar
Job Title:
CEO
Organisation
Pharmacierge
Biography

How to get involved: share your insights as a speaker

If you would like to be a speaker at this forthcoming conference, we would love to hear from you! We are currently in the process of researching and engineering a programme to focus on all the latest topical developments in Private Patients. If you would like to share your work, or the work of your service please let us know. 

Please email the conference producer Vanessa Pearce or call Vanessa on 01732 897788.

Pricing structure

  • Special promotion! First 10 bookings for £199 +VAT one NHS or Public Sector place
  • Early bird promotion: £249 +VAT one NHS or Public Sector place before Friday 16th May
  • £349 +VAT one full price NHS or Public Sector place if booked after Friday 16th May

For group bookings, please contact our delegate support team for further details:

enquiries@sbk-healthcare.co.uk

01732 897788

Commercial companies are also invited to sponsor this day. Please email Sarah Kemm for further details.

Venue details

Venue name: Royal Free Hospital

Address: Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG

Tel: 020 4502 7125

Parking at the Royal Free Hospital and in the surrounding areas is very limited and there's often a queue for the car park. Therefore, it is recommend you travel by public transport whenever possible. You can use the TfL Journey Planner to find the best route.

By bus- There are lots of buses that pass by the Royal Free Hospital. Bus routes 1, 24, 46, 268, C11 and N5 all serve the hospital.

By tube- The nearest underground station is Belsize Park on the Northern Line. The walk from Belsize Park station to the hospital takes about seven minutes and is partly uphill.

By train- Hampstead Heath station is very near to the hospital and is on the London Overground. The station accepts Oyster cards.

What happens once you have made your booking?

Once you have booked your place, SBK Healthcare will correspond with you using the email address you provided at the time of booking and you will be sent a formal confirmation. If you have not received this within 48 hours of making your booking please check your junk folder and then email bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk or call 01732 897788. .

Approximately one week prior to the conference you will be sent an email which will include all the final details for attendance on the day, including a final agenda and venue information.

Please inform us by writing to bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk if you have any special dietary or other requirements.

Reservations

If your funding has not yet been secured or you would like to hold your place with no obligation, you can reserve your place with us. Please email the reservations team at SBK Healthcare with your details:

  • Booking contact: name, job title, department, email and telephone number
  • Event(s) to reserve for: title and date
  • Delegate details (for each delegate): name, job title, department, email and telephone number
  • Organisation details: name and address

Alternatively you can make a confirmed booking by emailing the above information to the bookings team 

Terms and conditions

Certification of attendance

A certificate for Continuing Professional Development will be given to every fully registered participant who completes the course, as a record of your continuing professional training and development.

Registration fees

You will be sent an instant payment option or invoice on registration. Your payment is required in advance. If your fee has not been received prior to the event, and you are not able to provide a PO or proof of payment, you will be asked to make a credit or debit card payment on the day.

Modify registration

To let us know if your details are not correct when you have already registered, please email the bookings team.

Cancellations and substitutions

A full refund of fees will be made only for cancellations received within the first 48 hours of the booking being made. Notice of cancellation must be received in writing by emailing the bookings team at SBK Healthcare. Should you need to cancel your registration after this date, the registration fee remains payable in its entirety although a substitution will be accepted and conference documentation will be provided. Substitution attendees for delegates unable to attend after registering are acceptable at any time.

Event changes

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the conference organisers to alter the content, speakers or the timing of the programme. We will endeavour to keep you abreast of such changes but any unavoidable change to the format will not constitute a reason to refund the fee. Should the event be postponed, we will endeavour to reschedule the event. If, for reasons beyond the control of the conference organiser, the event is cancelled, a full refund will be made. We do not accept any liability for any incurred costs resulting from a postponement or cancellation.

Privacy notice

To view the details on how your data is being collected and used, please view our Privacy policy

Expected attendees

Taking place in a hospital for the first time since 2020, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to come together with established units, private facilities and services to network, share and develop new ways of moving forward. This conference will bring you together with: 

  • Private Patient Managers, Overseas Visitors Managers and General Managers
  • Business Development and Operations, Performance and Planning Leads
  • Commercial, Marketing and Communication Managers
  • Financial Planning, Contracts, Accounts and Finance Leads
  • Clinical Leads, Consultants and Senior Nurses

Past attendee feedback

This event follows on from the hugely successful ‘NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference’ held in September 2024 which welcomed attendees from across the country and was very well received:

"Very well set up, fantastic learning and networking day"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

"Very insightful into the current market and PPY future"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

"Central venue, good organization, inclusive. Excellent to have insurers in the room"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

"Good day, good networking, good experience"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

View further comments on SBK Healthcare events on Trust Pilot.

With thanks to our sponsors

An award-winning & secure healthcare software provider to Hospitals across the UK, including 19 of the top 20 earning NHS PPUs. Our #1 Private Patient Billing & Administrative Aolution, Compucare®, seamlessly integrates with your hospital PAS to maximise accuracy and efficiency.


Pharmacierge is the e-prescribing service chosen by private clinicians to deliver medication to their patients throughout the UK.  Clinicians create and transfer e-prescriptions to our pharmacy near Harley Street, for free medication delivery to their patients.


Patient Billing provide a fast, secure, personal medical billing & collection service for healthcare professionals in the private sector including consultants, groups & hospitals. Reduce admin time, protect your patient relationships and improve cash flow.


Why sponsor this SBK Healthcare Forum

Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing forums offer dedicated presentations, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be fully immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.

"Reinforced some of the ideas on pricing I have which will help me articulate back to my management"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

"Good to have them here"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

"Most useful"

NHS Private Patient Business Development Conference, September 2024

Interested in having your own event, managed by us?

SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.

Reach out today

If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact: 

Vanessa Pearce 

Contact: 01732 897788 

Email: vanessa.pearce@sbk-healthcare.co.uk