Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs)

An important aim of the Government’s plans for the NHS has been to cut the time that patients wait for care. ISTCs were created as part of this plan, and provide a limited range of planned (non-emergency) surgery and diagnostic services.

An update to the review of ISTCs (July 2008)

This report updates our review in 2007 of the quality of care provided by ISTCs. It analyses data for the year 2006/07, and the first half of the year 2007/08 (to September 2007).

Independent sector treatment centres: The evidence so far (pdf 169kb) (opens new window)

Review of the quality of care in ISTCs

The review was carried out at the request of the Secretary of State for Health, in order to compare the quality of care in the NHS and ISTCs.

The review covered 23 ISTCs, that have been operating since the original programme began in 2003. The Commission drew on evidence from a range of available sources to obtain the most complete picture possible on the performance of the ISTCs.

A report following the review was published on 19th July 2007:

Read our report - Independent sector treatment centres: A review of the quality of care (pdf 862kb) (opens new window)

Read the press release (19th July 2007)

Terms of reference for the ISTC review (pdf 42kb) (opens new window)

The review included a survey of elective orthopaedic inpatients treated in ISTCs, modelled on the Healthcare Commission's inpatient survey:
See the ISTC patient questionnaire (pdf 34kb) (opens new window)

The Healthcare Commission made a submission to the Health Committee inquiry into ISTCs in March 2006.

Read the ISTC submission by the Healthcare Commission (pdf 64kb) (opens new window)

Back to top