In response to today's letter from the CMA confirming sector compliance with the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order, Dr Ian Gargan, PHIN Chief Executive, said:

"I could not be happier to receive confirmation from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that PHIN, private hospitals and private consultants have successfully delivered compliance with the transparency provisions of the Private Healthcare Market Investigation Order 2014 (the Order).

"It, and it is a testament to the skill, dedication and enthusiasm of the team here at PHIN, and in the wider healthcare community, that we have reached this significant milestone.

"We are particularly grateful for the support of the CMA team who we have worked closely with since the Order came into force to ensure compliance.

"Everyone involved with PHIN in any capacity from its inception to today can be rightly proud to have played their part in this huge accomplishment.

"Patients have always been at the heart of what we do and with record levels of data now being published on our bespoke architecture they are better able than ever to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

"The PHIN website – which now contains information on the 690 hospitals and 12,600 surgical consultants offering private healthcare services in the UK, and much more – already provides help to over 50,000 patients a month on average and it can help so many others.

"This is just the beginning of PHIN’s journey. We will continue to work with the hospitals and consultants to maintain compliant levels of data, as well as building our value to the whole sector and to patients in the years to come."