Who needs to be registered with HIW?
The
Care Standards Act 2000 states that if you carry on or manage one of the following you will need to be registered with HIW:
In summary, an independent hospital is an establishment that is a non NHS hospital whose main purpose is:
- To provide medical or psychiatric treatment for illness or mental disorder; or
- To provide palliative care (hospices)
and
- Any other establishment in which treatment or nursing (or both) are provided for persons liable to be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
The provision of certain techniques and medical services may also trigger registration as an independent hospital. These are as follows:
- Medical treatment under anaesthesia or intravenously administered sedation
- Dental treatment under general anaesthesia
- Obstetric services, and in connection with childbirth, medical services
- Termination of Pregnancy Services
- Cosmetic surgery
- Treatment using prescribed techniques and technologies. These are prescribed in regulation 3 of the Independent Health Care (Wales) Regulations 2011 as follows:
- A Class 3B or 4 laser or Intense Light
- Circumcision of male children by a healthcare professional
- Haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
- Endoscopy
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
An independent clinic is an establishment comprising of a surgery or consulting room in which non NHS services of any kind (including psychiatric treatment) are provided by medical practitioners.
Registration is not required if the medical services are provided only under arrangements made on behalf of patients by:
- Their employer
- A prison or similar establishment
- An insurance provider with whom the patients holds a certain type of insurance policy.
An independent medical agency is defined in section 2(5) of the
Care Standards Act 2000. An independent medical agency is an undertaking (which includes any business or profession) which consists of or includes the provision of services by medical practitioners. It can include private “call out” services, travel and flu vaccine services.
Registration is not required if the medical services are provided only under arrangements made on behalf of patients by:
- Their employer
- A prison or similar establishment
- An insurance provider with whom the patients holds a certain type of insurance policy.
If you intend to carry on or manage an independent hospital, clinic or medical agency then please proceed to the application page.
There are certain exceptions to registration set out in regulation 3 of the Independent Health Care (
Wales) Regulations 2011. If you consider that these may apply to you or if you have any queries as to whether a service needs to be registered, please do not hesitate to
contact HIW giving as much information as possible.
Last updated:
06/04/2011
