Government gives go ahead to ISTCs

Patient care will be improved by the launch of three more Independent Sector Treatment Centre schemes (ISTCs), the government suggests.

Health minister Ben Bradshaw said the schemes give people access to faster treatment and greater choice.

Three more ISTCs have been approved, two in Greater Manchester and one for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A 385 million pound investment over seven years will provide more than 1.5 million contracted procedures and outpatient consultations, including general surgery, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and diagnostics.

Mr Bradshaw said: “We are committed to independent sector involvement in the NHS where it meets local needs, offers value for money and benefits local patients.”

He said it “is right” that the local NHS should continue to commission independent sector providers to guarantee faster services to meet local needs.

ISTCs perform pre-booked procedures and tests and the government says they are so successful at dealing with high volumes because they are both subject to emergency demands or seasonal factors.