§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the activities of the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust. [47821]
§ Mr. HuttonThe NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (NHS LIFT) initiative was announced in the NHS Plan. The objective of this initiative is to contribute to the overall NHS Plan targets of refurbishing or replacing up to 3,000 premises and 500 new one stop primary care centres by December 2004.
The NHS LIFT approach will bring together a number of individual developments providing a more co-ordinated approach to service development as well as helping to reduce procurement costs. New buildings provided under LIFTs will also enable the co-location of GP and community services, and wherever possible the location of social care agencies.
As a first step, a new public private partnership, Partnerships for Health (PfH) was established between the Department and Partnerships UK in September 2001. PfH will help localities develop and establish local LIFT companies. These local companies will be owned jointly by PfH, the local health economy and the private sector, and will build and develop premises, which will be leased to GPs and other primary care users.
1228WIn February 2001 the Department prioritised an initial six LIFT schemes, and in January 2002 a further twelve LIFT schemes were identified. Further announcements will be made later this year about a third wave of sites.
Two of the first-wave schemes (East London and the City and Camden and Islington), recently issued tender documentation, and it is expected that the other four first-wave schemes will issue their documentation in the near future. The value of the initial investment requirement in East London & City is £62.5 million and in Camden & Islington is £17 million.