HC Deb 11 December 1997 vol 302 cc690-1W
Dr. Brand

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those PFI services associated with projects with a capital value in excess of £10 million and the duration of each part of the PFI project. [19866]

Mr. Milburn

Four projects, each with a capital value in excess of £10 million, have now reached commercial close and the nature of the services that will be provided by the private sector under each scheme has therefore been decided. The schemes, and the services affected, areDartford and Gravesham NHS Trust: Estate maintenance; domestic services; catering; laundry; portering; security; non-emergency patient transport. Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust: Information Management and Technology (IM and T) systems; grounds and estate maintenance; domestic services; portering; financial services; catering; waste disposal and laundry; car parking; non-emergency patient transport; security; telecommunications; energy and utilities. Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust: Catering; laundry; communications/telephonist; sterile supplies; waste disposal; accommodation; energy; portering and mail; estates; car parking; domestic services; and reception. In addition, the possible provision by the private sector of non-emergency transport (patient transport service) is being reviewed by the trust and its private sector partner. South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust: Catering; cleaning; portering; non-emergency transport; laundry and linen; building services maintenance (new build/refurbishment only); private patients' unit.

The duration of each part of each of these schemes is as follows: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust: Contract period of 63 years (including the construction phase of three years) with breakpoints at year 28 and every five years subsequently after. Services provided by the private sector will be benchmarked every five years. Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust: Contract period of 64 years (including the construction phase of four years) with breakpoints at years 34, 44 and 54. Services provided by the private sector will be market tested in year nine and then every five years with the exception of IM and T Services. The initial contract for these will be for seven years, after which the Trust will be free to procure this service as it wishes. Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust: Contract period of 47.5 years, consisting of a construction phase of 2.5 years and an operational phase of 45 years. The Trust has the exclusive right to break the relationship in year 30 of the operational phase. Services provided by the private sector will be market-tested at intervals of five to seven years during the operational phase, depending on the service concerned. South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust: Contract period of 63 years (including the construction phase of three years) with break points at year 30 and then every five years. Services provided by the private sector will be market-tested after 10 years and subsequently every seven years.

Dr. Brand

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department's value for money calculations assume that patient related activity in connection with PFI projects with a capital value over £10 million will remain constant over the life of the project. [19863]

Mr. Milburn

No. Value for money (VFM) calculations are based on a number of assumptions including expected levels of patient activity and are carried out for all National Health Service capital projects. These levels are determined by a comprehensive analysis of current activity levels, expected changes in activity levels, patient flows and lengths of stay. Sensitivity analysis around these central assumptions is also undertaken to assess the effect on the VFM calculation of any changes. This includes an analysis of the impact of alternative levels of patient related activity.

Private Finance Initiative projects are expected to have a flexibility of design to allow for different types of care should future healthcare requirements alter. This flexibility of design is one of the factors looked at during the approval process of a PFI project and helps give hospitals an in-built capability for coping with changes to patient activity.