Department of Health

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Treatment centres

Treatment Centres (TCs) offer safe, fast, pre-booked day and short-stay surgery and diagnostic procedures in areas that have traditionally had the longest waiting times, such as ophthalmology and orthopaedics. TCs will play an important part in modernising the NHS and delivering a patient-centred health service. Whether NHS-run or managed by companies in the independent sector, the additional capacity TCs provide will be crucial in bringing down waiting times and giving patients more choice about when and where they are treated.

General information about Treatment Centres

General information about Treatment Centres

A detailed introduction, including a description of different types of TCs. The aims of the Treatment Centre programme are to (a) help provide the extra capacity needed to deliver swift access to treatment for NHS patients, (b) spearhead diversity and choice in clinical services for NHS patients and (c) stimulate innovative models of service delivery.

Core characteristics

Core characteristics

Describes the core characteristics of Treatment Centres at a high level.

Maps of Treatment Centre locations

TCs across England

Treatment Centres are located all across England - wherever primary care trusts have identified them as the best solution for meeting local capacity needs. The maps are in Portable Document Format and require the Acrobat Reader: please use your browser's Refresh button or F5 to ensure you are looking at the latest version)

Innovation and best practice

This section holds information on innovative and best practice developed through the work of Treatment Centres. Some examples of innovations together with supportive materials on the approach and success are included to provide an insight into best practice.

Publications and reports

Government's Response to the Health Committee's Report on Independent Sector Treatment Centres (October 2006)

The House of Commons Health Committee published its report on Independent Sector Treatment Centres on 25 July 2006. This Command Paper sets out the Government's response to the recommendations in that report.

Independent sector treatment centres (ISTC) training policy (July 2006)

SHAs will need to commission training from Independent Sector Providers providing routine treatment for NHS patients. This document is a high-level policy statement that will help SHAs and NHS trusts in planning and commissioning training. Electronic version only.

Independent sector treatment centres (February 2006)

This is a report to the Secretary of State for Health about Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTC). The ISTC programme is part of a major initiative to create additional capacity within the NHS to reduce waiting times and introduce choice for patients. This report covers: the background to the ISTC procurement; the benefits of ISTCs; operational issues; and the future for the use of the independent sector to treat NHS patients.

ISTC manual (February 2006)

The purpose of this manual is to explain the background to Wave 1 of the ISTC Programme, the key issues relating to it and the ways in which Wave 1 works in practice.

Preliminary overview report (November 2005)

This report presents an overview of retrospective performance of four ISTC schemes, covering five providers.

Treatment centres: delivering faster, quality care and choice for NHS patients (January 2005)

Report outlining progress made by the Treatment Centre programme to date.

Independent Sector Treatment Centres contract information

Treatment Centres FAQ

Treatment Centres FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about TCs, including the services they offer, and the benefits for patients and staff.

Patient and staff views

Treatment centres aim to create a positive environment for both patients and staff. Patient and professional experiences are here.

Patient pathways

Patient pathways

Information on leading patient pathways adopted by Treatment Centres.

Workforce

Examples of innovative staff deployment and utilisation in Treatment Centres with the aim to create a positive working environment.

Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) - Service Agreements

Independent Sector services are delivered in accordance with the founding NHS principle of treatment free at the point of delivery and available according to clinical need, rather than ability to pay. Independent Sector healthcare organisations provide greater scope to introduce new and innovative ways of delivering healthcare to NHS patients by adapting the traditional NHS model to suit local healthcare needs.  Some Centres are refurbished sections of existing hospitals, or new buildings and some are mobile units that travel around the country.  Patients treated at any NHS Treatment Centre that is managed by an independent healthcare company are still NHS patients. Care and treatment is free and patients can expect the same level of service they would expect from the NHS.  GP or local support services can give patients information about the choices that are available.

Additional links

Related Links

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