§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will name the consortiums bidding to develop the new Edinburgh royal infirmary under the private finance initiative; and when he expects to announce the preferred bidder. [38800]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere are two consortiums currently under consideration by the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS trust for the development of the new facility. These are:
- Consort (consisting of Royal Bank of Scotland, BICC and others).
- Alliance (consisting of John Laing, the British Linen Bank and others).
The selection and announcement of preferred bidder is entirely a matter for the trust, which is currently indicating a decision in September.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the cost of the new Edinburgh royal infirmary(a) under the private finance initiative scheme and (b) as a conventional public sector development; and if he will publish an analysis of the differences between those alternatives. [38802]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe current conventional public sector option estimate of capital cost of the new royal infirmary building is £178 million. Fees, on-costs and equipment may add approximately £60 million to this figure.
The private finance costs are currently subject to a competitive process and figures are not yet known.
The preferred private sector bid will be compared to the public option in a full business case, to be approved by Scottish Office Ministers, who will be accountable to Parliament for the decision process outlined in the document.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations are being undertaken with414W months, (iv) more than 15 months and (v) more than 18 months in the most recent year for which figures are available. [38853]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is set out in the table. The main factor in waiting times for kidney transplants is the availability of organs and not hospital resources.
NHS trusts and local authorities in the Lothian area about reductions in existing hospital services in anticipation of the development of the new Edinburgh royal infirmary; what is the timetable for those consultations; and if he will make a statement. [38799]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonClinical activity is expected to rise in the Lothian health board area in future years. The new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh will play a key part in providing the services needed to meet this increased activity. Lothian health board consulted widely on its plans for acute hospital services before its acute services strategy was approved.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds are being planned for the new Edinburgh royal infirmary; and if he will make a statement on changes from the original proposal. [38801]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of beds at the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh will be determined in the light of forecast numbers of patients to be treated and developments in patterns of treatment. These are matters for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS trust to discuss with the consortiums tendering for the project.