Healthcare Commission publishes review of ISTCs

The Healthcare Commission has published a review of the care provided by independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs), with the body stating that this report offers reassurance of quality of care offered in such centres, with patients rating their services highly.

However, the commission noted that there are too many gaps in the available data to facilitate a consistent comparison of the quality of care provided by the independent sector with that available on the NHS.

The body has called for the publication of additional information to enable an improved comparison of the quality of care on the health service and ISTCs.

Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission, said: “The Department of Health in setting up ISTCs required a great deal of information from them.

“But what is needed to provide assurance is publishable information that provides a comparison with the quality of care in the NHS.”

She urged for a single system enabling the publication of comparable information on both public and private healthcare providers, irrespective of individuals’ status as NHS patients.

Earlier this week, the Healthcare Commission reported that most primary care trusts are commissioning adequate services for diabetes patients, though called for an improvement on the assistance offered to patients for self-manage their condition.