Health Secretary Opens First Independent Treatment Centre In London

There is a major breakthrough in reducing waiting times and creating choice in the NHS with the opening today by the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, of the first Independent Sector Treatment Centre in London.

The North East London NHS Treatment Centre is situated adjacent to the Accident and Emergency department at King George Hospital, Ilford. It is being run under a five year contract by Partnership Health Group (PHG), in partnership with the Department of Health.

The Centre provides additional capacity and choice for just under one million people in the areas of North East London covered by four primary care trusts – Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.

The Centre delivers a range of diagnostic and outpatient services, planned elective inpatient and day case surgery in six disciplines: Orthopaedics; Urology; General Surgery; Ophthalmology; Oral; and Ear, Nose and Throat. It is fully equipped to support patients from outpatients to post-discharge.

Opening the new centre, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: “I am delighted to be in Ilford to see these impressive new facilities and officially open the first centre of this kind in London. I am confident that the local community will see significant benefits. Not only will patients have the choice of where to have their operation, there will be a greater capacity for more procedures, which in turn will reduce waiting times for everybody.

“We have already seen success stories elsewhere in the country where there are already independent sector treatment centres. Patient satisfaction ratings are currently at 97 per cent. Looking at the facilities here at the North East London Treatment Centre and talking to staff working at the centre, I have every confidence that this will be the case here.”  

Dr Grant Rex, Managing Director of Partnership Health Group, said: “We are  delighted to be working with the Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals Trust, the local PCTs and local community on this NHS first for London. We look forward to contributing to improving access, waiting times and choice in NHS services for the people of North East London.”