RCS responds to Health Select Committee report into independent sector treatment centres

25 July 2006

Bernard Ribeiro, President of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, today welcomed the report of the inquiry into Independent Sector Treatment Centres by the Health Committee of the House of Commons. The report addresses a number of significant issues raised by the College in its written and oral evidence.

Mr Ribeiro said “The Health Committee considers the College’s concerns about ISTCs being poorly integrated into the NHS and not providing training for junior doctors to be well founded. It has concluded that there were failings in the quality of data collection by the NHS and IS providers – these make it impossible to compare standards of care in the two sectors. It has also reinforced our clear view that there are major benefits in separating elective and emergency care.”

“The College believes additionality must be discontinued in phase 2 to improve integration and that all ISTCs should be required to provide training overseen by College-approved NHS trainers. We welcome the Healthcare Commission’s intention to audit the quality of care in ISTCS but we are dismayed by the draft terms of reference for this review that make no reference to meaningful measures of outcome as called for in the report. I have written to the Healthcare Commission criticising the proposed approach and emphasising that this important exercise requires a fundamental change of emphasis. The College would be very willing to offer its advice and expertise in undertaking this audit.”

Mr Ribeiro added “The Health Committee is to be congratulated on a balanced, wide-ranging and far-sighted review that has highlighted major deficiencies in the ISTC programme that require urgent attention by the Department of Health.