Consortium signs deal for £76m PFI health scheme

A £76 million hospital in Calderdale is the latest PFI healthcare scheme to reach a financial close.

A deal was signed on Friday 31 July between Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust and its chosen private sector partner - Catalyst Healthcare (Calderdale) - a consortium comprising Bovis, RCO Holdings and British Linen Bank. Finance is being provided by Halifax and Bank of Scotland.

Bovis will design, construct and maintain the new building, while RCO Holdings will provide the non-clinical support services. British Linen bank is financial adviser.

The new hospital will be built on the site of the Halifax General Hospital and will provide improved clinical facilities and better ward accommodation. The hospital will be constructed on spare land at the Halifax site, but the project will also involve the demolition of some existing buildings and the retention and upgrading of other parts of the site.

Work will begin later this summer and the new 614-bed facility should be receiving its first patients in 2001. The new build element will comprise two new ward blocks, eight operating theatres, modern day-case facilities and new diagnostic facilities.

Catalyst Healthcare was selected as preferred bidder back in September 1996. The project was one of 14 PFI schemes given priority status by the new Labour Government in July 1997. Catalyst is also negotiating a financial close on another of the 14 priority schemes - the £70 million Worcester Royal Infirmary project.