Background
BPPA advised the Independent Healthcare Association on the concordat regarding the use of private sector beds by the NHS. This led to BPPA becoming part of the team of experts set up by BUPA to look at the demand for health services between 2008 -15.

Objectives
To position BUPA as an influential commentator on the delivery of health services in the UK

Tactics
BPPA helped BUPA prepare its report on the future of NHS funding beyond 2008, published October 2006.

The Report, “Mind the Gap: Sustaining Improvements in the NHS Beyond 2008” warns of an £11 billion funding gap by 2015 even after large productivity gains.

The report was undertaken through the respected economic consultancy NERA.

BPPA tailored the key messages in the report to appeal to policy-makers and advised BUPA on how best to promote the report to stakeholders in Whitehall and Westminster.

The report was launched via a seminar hosted by the respected think tank, Social Market Foundation. The event was presided over by respected economic commentor Lord Lipsey and was well attended by Government and the health service network

Audiences targeted:

• Ministers (No.10, No.11, HMT, DoH. OGC) 
• Special Advisers 
• Officials 
• MPs / Peers 
• Senior figures in the NHS 
• Senior figures in the healthcare community 
• Think Tanks 
• Health Academics

Results
The report provided permission for BUPA to engage with advisers and opinion formers close to Gordon Brown on the issue of cost pressures facing the NHS. It also provided BUPA with an opportunity to liaise with key Conservative policymakers like Stephen Dorrell and Baroness Perry on their work on developing party thinking on the public services. Finally it facilitated dialogue with others in the health service as an equal partner, committed to finding solutions to difficult policy problems.