The Data Protection Acts are not there to stifle business, they are there to ensure that data collected is used and protected appropriately, and managed according to the purpose for which it was collected. That means you can share data with your secretary, the insurance companies and other parties, such as Hospitals, Accountants and Billing

You have a legal duty to register with the Information Commissioners Office. In the NHS, the legalities of the Data Protection Act are overseen by the Trust. In private Practice you are responsible for the Data that is collected about your employees and your patients. It is very simple to do, log on to the ICO

At HytheHopes, we always look for best value rather than cost. We consider value as the benefits minus the costs, and to do this we assign an amount to each benefit. We often find people in all walks of life focus only on costs and make decisions without considering all the factors. Sometimes it is

We know that there are plenty of companies out there that can build a good quality website, at a reasonable price, and within a reasonable timescale. But from our perspective, the biggest challenge is finding someone who can design the website, who understands you and your customers, and can deliver a scientific approach to website

We would recommend that you have a website for two major reasons. The first is to advertise yourself and the skills that you possess, this would be part of your marketing strategy. There is also the opportunity for your potential patients to start to get to know you. The second is to provide information to

Before you interview and appoint a secretary, you need to determine the scope of the role. In private practice, the following tasks are some of what may need to be covered. Booking appointments, although Private hospitals often offer this service at no cost. Preparing clinic notes Typing clinic, GP, insurance company and patient letters. A

As you are now operating independently of the NHS, you are responsible for ensuring that you have sufficient legal cover in the event of a problem. Insurance Companies and Hospitals may insist that this is in place, and may advise you as to how much cover you will require. You will need to estimate your

The insurance companies will check your listing on the GMC website when you register with them to ensure that you are qualified to undertake Consultancy in your stated specialty. They will also check whether you have any warnings or suspensions logged against you.

Here is a checklist of what else needs to be in place before you start. Ensure that you are entered on the GMC Specialist Register for your specialty. Obtain MDU cover or equivalent for your private practice. Design your support team, including the roles of clinical and financial secretary Determine who will fulfill the role

Firstly, may we offer our congratulations on your appointment. Secondly, before you can register with an insurance company, you need to acquire some practising rights, so determine at which Private Hospitals you wish to practice. Some criteria that you may wish to consider when assessing the Hospital. The distance between your home and the Hospital,