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05/09/2003
BMA expresses ‘concern’ over Diagnostic and Treatment Centres
The British Medical Association (BMA) has given a guarded welcome to the extra capacity that could be provided by government plans to introduce a number of private Diagnostic and Treatment Centres (DTCs).
While the centres will be used to develop additional capacity, mainly for non-emergency elective work within the health service, the doctors' representative body has said that there are several issues which it will be taking up with government.
The BMA has expressed reservations about quality and safeguards at the centres which will be effectively operating outside the NHS.
BMA Chairman James Johnson said today: "DTCs will help the Government meet its waiting list targets, but more importantly will benefit patients whose quality of life may be seriously impaired while waiting for treatment.
"Obviously if more resources were directed to NHS hospitals they could take on this additional work.
"However, the BMA does have a number of concerns and we will be taking these up with the Department of Health.”
The main issues that the BMA will be seeking to highlight are that the quality of work in the treatment centres must be at least as good as in NHS hospitals and that there must be safeguards to ensure that all the research, training and teaching that currently takes place in NHS hospitals can continue.
DTCs are commercial outfits making a profit and the BMA has pointed out that as such they are extremely unlikely to take on such non-clinical work at no extra cost.
The BMA also said it wanted to know where the money will come from to fund the extra work to be carried out by DTCs. Primary care trusts will have to fund local hospitals that are offering a 24-hour service to patients and the BMA said it was concerned that resources would be re-directed to DTCs.
Mr Johnson said: “It is essential that DTCs do not destabilise the local economy of district hospitals. Hospitals need the correct balance of routine and more complex clinical procedures so that they can provide training for junior doctors and so that they receive adequate funding to offer a complete service for all procedures."
Earlier this week, senior surgeons warned that the introduction of the centres could have a "catastrophic effect" on health provision by draining essential funding from core services.
A Department of Health spokesperson claimed that there had been serious “misconceptions” and that arrangements for the centres had yet to be finalised.
(SP)
While the centres will be used to develop additional capacity, mainly for non-emergency elective work within the health service, the doctors' representative body has said that there are several issues which it will be taking up with government.
The BMA has expressed reservations about quality and safeguards at the centres which will be effectively operating outside the NHS.
BMA Chairman James Johnson said today: "DTCs will help the Government meet its waiting list targets, but more importantly will benefit patients whose quality of life may be seriously impaired while waiting for treatment.
"Obviously if more resources were directed to NHS hospitals they could take on this additional work.
"However, the BMA does have a number of concerns and we will be taking these up with the Department of Health.”
The main issues that the BMA will be seeking to highlight are that the quality of work in the treatment centres must be at least as good as in NHS hospitals and that there must be safeguards to ensure that all the research, training and teaching that currently takes place in NHS hospitals can continue.
DTCs are commercial outfits making a profit and the BMA has pointed out that as such they are extremely unlikely to take on such non-clinical work at no extra cost.
The BMA also said it wanted to know where the money will come from to fund the extra work to be carried out by DTCs. Primary care trusts will have to fund local hospitals that are offering a 24-hour service to patients and the BMA said it was concerned that resources would be re-directed to DTCs.
Mr Johnson said: “It is essential that DTCs do not destabilise the local economy of district hospitals. Hospitals need the correct balance of routine and more complex clinical procedures so that they can provide training for junior doctors and so that they receive adequate funding to offer a complete service for all procedures."
Earlier this week, senior surgeons warned that the introduction of the centres could have a "catastrophic effect" on health provision by draining essential funding from core services.
A Department of Health spokesperson claimed that there had been serious “misconceptions” and that arrangements for the centres had yet to be finalised.
(SP)
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