An Isle of Wight Councillor has told MPs and peers that a new generation of NHS primary care properties will require support through a ‘responsible partnership approach’ with the private sector.
Speaking in his capacity as Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) Council Chairman at a parliamentary event yesterday (Wednesday), Councillor Chris Whitehouse (Conservative, Newport West Ward) reiterated the warnings of Sir Robert Naylor of the number of NHS buildings which are more than 30 years old and hindering the delivery of high-quality, modern patient care.
Cllr Whitehouse noted that the support of the private sector would be required to modernise the NHS estate and aid the £10 billion investment committed by Chancellor Philip Hammond to the estate in November’s Budget.
Acknowledging concerns about the use of the private sector following the collapse of Carillion, Cllr Whitehouse highlighted the value of the LIFT model compared to other initiatives, also recognising the model has the capability to support and maintain premises able to deliver a range of services to support local communities. He also emphasised the longstanding relationships between LIFT Companies and local NHS partners, allowing facilities to be adapted to changing needs and utilised to best effect.
Speaking in the prestigious Winston Churchill Room of the House of Commond to an invited audience of 100 MPs, peers, investors, government officials and representatives of NHS primary care, Cllr Whitehouse reminded those present that a recent report from the Reform think tank revealed that 70% of GPs believe their surgeries are too small to deliver additional services as required in the Five Year Forward View.
Karin Smyth MP, who is a Labour member of the Public Accounts Committee and a former NHS manager, sponsored the parliamentary event and called for ‘collaboration’ to improve the NHS estate, which she described as one of its ‘most fundamental aspects’.
Councillor Chris Whitehouse, Chairman of the LIFT Council, said:
“Sir Robert Naylor’s report showed the alarming number of NHS premises that are more than 30 years old. We cannot expect GPs and healthcare professionals to deliver the services patients need in local communities if the buildings they work in are simply not up to scratch.
Article continues below this advertisement “There is an understandable hesitancy about the role of the private sector in delivering public services and infrastructure given recent events. But it’s important to remember that the LIFT model has been proven over nearly two decades, has delivered more than 330 fit-for-purpose buildings, and generated more than £2.5bn of investment in the primary care estate. These premises allow for the delivery of a multitude of services, ensuring patients get the care they need without resorting to acute settings, and delivering value for money to the health service.”
