Newcastle NHS LIFT PPP out to tender

The last of the NHS's six pilot local improvement finance trust (LIFT) public private partnership projects has come out to tender. The latest scheme is led by North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and is worth up to £45m over the first five years.

The scheme is part of the NHS plan to invest £1bn in upgrading and improving 3,000 primary care centres and GP surgeries around the country by involving the private sector.

The Newcastle scheme brings together North Tyneside Primary Care Trust, Newcastle Primary Care Trust, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council and Partnerships for Health (a joint venture between the Department of Health and Partnerships UK).

The work involves upgrading or constructing intermediate care facilities, health centres, resource centres, GP and dentist's accommodation, pharmacies and other health related facilities.

The first tranche of work is estimated to be worth in the region of £15m. Further projects in the first five years, including the first tranche, are expected to be worth around £45m.

The private sector partners will be required to provide facilities management and building maintenance services for around 25 years.

Three of the six pilot NHS LIFT schemes have already each shortlisted three consortia. These involve the projects at East London and City, Camden and Islington and Barnsley. The Sandwell, Wednesbury and West Bromich and the Salford, Manchester and Trafford LIFT schemes are currently evaluating potential bidders.

A second wave of 12 LIFT projects has also been identified with schemes expected to go ahead at: Barking and Havering; Birmingham and Solihull; Bradford; Cornwall and Isles of Scilly; Coventry; East Lancashire; Hull; Leicester; Liverpool and Sefton; West Kent (Medway); North Staffordshire; Redbridge and Waltham Forest.