B&K and Yorkon win DTC work

Bowmer & Kirkland and Yorkon, members of the Anglo-Canadian Clinics consortium, has been named preferred bidder for three diagnostic treatment centres (DTCs) in London.

The consortium has won three DTCs at: Chase Farm, Barnet; the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital at King's Cross; and the King George Hospital in Redbridge.

The DTC programme has attracted criticism in the national media as consortia will not only design, build, refurbish, maintain and manage the centres, but also directly employ all clinical staff.

The programme is an attempt to radically reduce NHS waiting lists. The DTCs will take the pressure off the acute hospitals by performing minor operations such as cataract surgery, hip replacements and knee operations.

The first tranche of schemes will run for five years, worth around £1.5bn.

Health secretary John  Reid only announced two-thirds of the total programme today (Friday 12 September). Jarvis (part of InterHealth Jarvis), Carillion (part of Patients Choice Partners) and Costain (part of DTC International) are waiting on the remaining third to see if they have won any projects, having won none in today's announcement.