Health group fined £1m for price fixing

Private hospital group Spire has been fined £1.2 million by the Competitions and Markets Authority after it was found guilty of instigating and facilitating an illegal arrangement with seven consultant ophthalmologists.

The doctors have all admitted that they agreed to fix fees for initial private consultations for self-pay patients at £200 following a dinner organised by that hospital’s management and attended by five of the seven ophthalmologists, during which the topic of fees was raised. The arrangement between Spire - which has two hospitals in Scotland and the consultants, who all operated out of a hospital in the north of England, continued for almost two years.

Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA, said: “Initial consultations are an essential first step for people suffering from eye disorders. It is unacceptable that patients were unable to shop around and get the best deal because Spire and the consultants illegally set a minimum consultation fee.

“It is particularly disappointing that the CMA has had to take action in the private ophthalmology sector again, following a previous finding of anti-competitive practices in the sector in 2015.”

The company said: “Spire Healthcare apologises for its conduct and fully co-operated with the CMA in its investigation, agreeing to accept the CMA’S findings in full.”