Commenting on the Royal College of Surgeons and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's study, David Worskett, director of the NHS Partners Network, said:

"The Royal College of Surgeons and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's report takes a balanced view of the care that NHS patients receive in both NHS facilities and those run by the independent sector. This report recognises that for many patents the ISTC environment is a better one in which to carry out low-risk procedures.

"There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Individual patients have different needs which are best met by different types of facility and ISTCs respond well to that patient-centred reality.

"The facilities where patients are treated will always take into account any health conditions which may increase the risk of the procedure. It is right that patients with potential complications should always be treated at facilities with a wider range of back-up specialisms. That is in the interests of patient safety.

"NHS patients have historically reported very high levels of satisfaction with the care they receive at ISTCs, and most say they are unconcerned whether their care is provided by an NHS or independent sector provider, as long as it is high quality and free at the point of use."