ISTC Chronology

The separation of elective from emergency care by establishing treatment centres has been promoted by clinicians in England since the early 1990s to:

• Support the NHS in reducing waiting times – “18 week waiting time target”
• Support choice and contestability
• Create an IS market that delivers Value for Money (VfM)
• Support the shift from secondary to primary care
• Promote innovative service models
• Reduce costs of ‘spot purchasing’
• Contribute to the long-term development of relationships between the IS and the NHS in the attainment of local NHS targets
  

April 2002

The Department of Health announce a programme of  46 NHS Treatment Centres

Dec 2002 

Decision taken to commission a number of Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) to treat NHS patients for relatively simple, high volume surgical procedures at a cost of £1.7 billion

2003

The first ISTC began operating

Sept 2003 

Following initial interest from 147 companies,  29 Wave 1 ISTCs were announced (including UKSH’s contract for the Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre)

March 2005 

Department of Health announces Phase 2 of ISTC programme worth £2.75 billion (elective) and £1.7 billion (diagnostic) over five years across 17 schemes (including seven regional diagnostic schemes)

July 2005 

Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre (SMTC) opens

July 2006 

Secretary of State visits SMTC

August 2006  

Announcement of UKSH’s award of Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire preferred bidder contract