17 May 2024
Open letter to AXA regarding practitioner psychologist fees and processes

Dear Miss Sarah Taylor,

We are practitioner psychologists registered with the HCPC, who have provided or are currently providing services to AXA policy holders.

We read with great interest the article in Independent Practitioners Today in 2023, in which you were consulted, regarding an 11% fee increase for “the majority of surgeons and physicians”. Many of us have been offering services to AXA clients for 5 to 10+ years without any increase in our fees during this time. However, we are aware of a disparity wherein some practitioners have been granted a 20% increase in their fees. It is evident from our shared experiences that there is no consistency in these decisions, and the decision making process has not been made transparent to all practitioners.

The current fee of £100 is simply not sustainable. The costs of running an independent practice have increased significantly over the years. We note that you echoed similar concerns in the aforementioned article, stating, “we understand that private practice is under pressure, both from an increasing post-Covid workload and the rising cost of living.”

For many of us, working with AXA policyholders means offering services at a significant reduction compared with our fees for self-funding clients. Additionally, AXA does not allow policyholders to top up fees to work with a psychologist of their choice, despite a statement on the AXA website that suggests top ups are permitted.

In recent months, many of us have requested a fee increase from AXA but have received a blanket response declining the request, stating that the number of practitioners in our geographical areas accepting the current fee is sufficient. As a result, many of us have ceased accepting new AXA clients or have de-registered completely. Despite this, we continue to receive requests from AXA clients who want to work with us specifically, as there are no other appropriately trained or specialised psychologists in the local area.

Furthermore, AXA’s administrative processes are complex and time consuming to navigate, with many of us experiencing significant difficulties receiving payments. Consequently, the additional administrative burden is costly in terms of practice time and unpaid invoices. This is further impacting our motivation to offer services to AXA policyholders; AXA’s reputation among practitioner psychologists in independent practice is unfortunately quite poor.

We are therefore writing to express our significant concern about the impact your approach to fees and the challenging AXA processes are having, and are likely to have, on the future availability, of highly skilled and experienced HCPC registered practitioner psychologists for AXA policy holders.

We urge you to review the policy regarding fee uplifts. Additionally, we request that you review the procedures regarding invoicing and payment, including an inquiry into the number of unpaid invoices to practitioner psychologists over recent years. We are willing to provide any information necessary to assist you in this process.

Thank you for your attention to these critical matters. We look forward to your response in ensuring fair remuneration and efficient administrative processes for the benefit of both practitioners and AXA policyholders.

Sincerely,

503
signatures
464 verified
  1. Andrea Prevett, Clinical Psychologist, Cardiff
  2. Gemma Parker, Clinical Psychologist, Altogether Human CIC, Manchester
  3. Laura McGrath, Clinical psychologist, South Manchester Psychologist, Manchester
  4. Nick Wakefield, Clinical psychologist, London
  5. Julia Edwards, Clinical Psychologist, Liverpool
  6. Lucy kornecki, Clinical psychologist, The rooms of knutsford, Cheshire
  7. Dr Sohbia shoaib, Psychologist, Dr Shoaib psychology practice ltd, Manchester
  8. Madeleine Tebbet, Clinical Psychologist, Surrey
  9. Eleanor Martin, Clinical Psychologist, Berkhamsted
  10. Louise Dodd, Clinical Psychologist, Severn Psychology Seevices, Worcestershire
  11. Dr Emma Sibbald, Clinical psychologist, Private practice, Surrey
  12. Mary Delaney, Clinical Psychologist, Positive Neuropsychology Solutions, Bury
  13. Jess Valentine, Psychologist, Brighton Mental Health & Wellbeing, Hove
  14. Dr Beth Anfilogoff, Counselling Psychologist, London
  15. Dr Lucy Spencer, Clinical psychologist, margate
  16. Dr Prarthana Shetty, Counselling Psychologist, Aasha Psychology Ltd, London
  17. Claire Gittoes, Clinical Psychologist, Acorn Clinical Psychology, Edinburgh
  18. Siobhan McHale, Counselling Psychologist, Nottinghamshire
  19. DR RANJEET BASSI, clinical psychologist, My Calm Therapy, London
  20. Dr Nicola Gawn, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, East Sussex
...
424 more
verified signatures
  1. Georgina Sherling, Clincial Psychologist, Private practice, Bushey
  2. Mariette Bothma, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Welwyn Garden City
  3. dr cathy kitson, clinical psychologist, london
  4. Michael Swan, Clinical Psychologist, Exeter
  5. Shri Cameron, Clinical psychologist
  6. Dr Wendy Bowley, Clinical Psychologist
  7. Dr Arabella Bowen, Consultant Counselling Psychologist, Pitchbury Psychological Services, Shipham, WINSCOMBE
  8. Harriet Challoner, Counselling Psychologist, Dr Harriet Challoner, Chepstow
  9. Dr Stephanie Louw, Clinical Psychologist, Stephanie Louw Psychology, St Albans
  10. Eva Maiwald, Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, London
  11. Emilly Scott, Clinical Psychologist, Tay Psychology LLP, Dundee
  12. Christopher Glover, Clinical Psychologist, London
  13. Dr Katroina Taylor, Clinical Psychologist, Kat Taylor Psychology, Sheffield
  14. dr siobhan Mccarthy, uk psychologost, LONDON
  15. Asimina Arvanitopoulou, Enfield
  16. Lindsey DuQueno, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, Huddersfield
  17. Kathie Burke, Clinical Psychologist, London
  18. MARYA KANWAL, MaryaKCBT, Broadstone
  19. Susie Rudge, Clinical Psychologist, Dr Susie Rudge and Contextual Consulting, London
  20. Jessica Roberts, Psychologist, Sloane court clinic, London
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