NHS Ayrshire & Arran has bought the private Carrick Glen hospital for £1.8m as part of the government programme to set up a network of new National Treatment Centres (NTCs).

The Scottish government says that this centre will begin work specialising in orthopaedic services in mid-May.

It will be one of ten NTCs promised by the government, which are to play a central role in the NHS recovery plan. Eventually the NTCs are expected to deliver over 40,000 additional surgeries and procedures each year.

Eleven staff at the Carrick Glen hospital, employed by Circle Health Group, are affected and have been in consultation about their futures since the beginning of the month.

Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf has declared his support. He said:

“These centres will mark the largest expansion in elective care capacity in NHS Scotland with an overall investment of over £400 million.

“We know that the pandemic has taken its toll on services like orthopaedics, but the network of NTCs will help address this and will be central to NHS recovery.”

NHS National Treatment Centres are being modelled on the National Waiting Times service at Golden Jubilee in Clydebank, today announcing its University status as the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital. In doing so, the hospital is marking a new partnership with the University of Strathclyde, working together to “develop sustainable, innovative and practical solutions to health and social care challenges.”

Although NHS Ayrshire & Arran purchased from Circle BMI on 31^st March, the Circle Health Group will occupy the hospital building until mid-May. Thereafter, it will become the new National Treatment Centre and will provide services alongside the University Hospital Ayr site.

Dr Joellene Mitchell, Consultant Anaesthetist and co-clinical lead for the NTC Ayrshire & Arran said the new centre will be important for people in Ayrshire:

“It will mean that we can treat more patients, reducing waiting times and improving patient experience.”

She explained that this centre will provide extra support across a range of NHS Scotland orthopaedics services.

“The NTC aims to create additional access to theatre sessions, increase orthopaedic inpatient beds and improve orthopaedic pathways through a whole scale review and redesign of processes, services, staffing and accommodation,” said Dr Mitchell.

Mr Yousaf added that over the next year, he expects more National Treatment Centres to be announced across NHS boards in Scotland, including Fife, Highland and Forth Valley, as well as the expansion of the Golden Jubilee, the phase 2 expansion of which is due to open in 2023 and will also focus on orthopaedics and other surgical specialities.

This work comes as part of a larger NHS Scotland plan, with the Centre for Sustainable Development(CfSD) overseeing the redesign of care pathways and new approaches adopted by NHS boards.

Alongside the replacement of Edinburgh’s Eye Pavilion, other centres in Cumbernauld and Ayrshire, the Scottish government will create a total network of 10 NTCs, including sites in Tayside, Lothian and Grampian.

Read more: Ministers drop "unrealistic" NHS restart target; Scotland reaches heart valve treatment milestone; NHS Scotland operations moved to private hospitals

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