After weeks of uncertainty about the future of the largest ever PFI hospital project, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has finally given the go-ahead for work to continue on the £1 billion redevelopment of St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London.
The scheme, which includes state-ofthe- art cancer and cardiac
facilities, will include up to 1,248 beds on two sites. The agreed
re-development will deliver all the proposed services for patients for nearly
£20 million a year less than the Trust’s original proposals. This should save
nearly £650 million over the 35 year life of the contract for better NHS servcies
in East London.
Patricia Hewitt said: “This is an excellent deal for NHS patients in
East London and beyond into the Thames Gateway. I am securing the future of
first rate NHS services for some of the most deprived communities in the
country. At the same time we have ensuredaffordability and value for taxpayers’ money. Barts
and the London are safe in this Government’s hands.”
The recent NHS operating manual, The NHS in England: the operating framework for 2006/7, introduces measures to improve the ability of Trusts to plan for major
investments, including PFI. It asks that Trusts planning major new hospital
buildings, including PFI schemes, take account of the current reforms to the
NHS.
