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Private health clinics accused of offering poor value for money to NHS |
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07 March 2008 |
Private health clinics employed by the NHS to carry out surgery on its behalf are today told there is no evidence they offer good value for money.
Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) are clinics set up by private healthcare companies, contracted to perform some forms of surgery on behalf of the NHS.
Private health clinics employed by the NHS to carry out surgery on its behalf are today told there is no evidence they offer good value for money.
Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) are clinics set up by private healthcare companies, contracted to perform some forms of surgery on behalf of the NHS. They have caused controversy since they were introduced in 2003, with Kester Cunningham John making strong representations to government against their use.
The firm has lobbied government against their use because of concerns over their clinical standards, revealed by a number of claims which Kester Cunningham John has made on behalf of patients who have suffered botched surgery.
The firm has also appeared in a major BBC documentary on the issue, as well as providing evidence to enquiries by the House of Commons Select Committee on Health and the Healthcare Commission.
ISTCs were set up to cut waiting lists by carrying out surgery like hip replacements and cataract removal. But it is claimed that they have creamed off easy operations, leaving complicated cases to the NHS. The clinics are guaranteed their contractual income regardless of how many patients they see.
Now, researchers writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), say taxpayers' money is still being spent on ISTCs despite no good evidence that they provide additional capacity, value for money or high quality care.
Professor Allyson Pollock and Sylvia Godden, from the University of Edinburgh, said the Government seems determined to "privatise the delivery of healthcare".
The ISTC programme for England, over the course of two phases (waves), will provide elective surgery and other services at a total cost of more than |
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