Largest private NHS scheme approved
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The first major privately-funded NHS hospital building scheme has been approved by UK Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell. The £35 million ($55 million) contract for new buildings at South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust is heralded by Mr Dorrell as "a turning point for the Private Finance Initiative in the NHS". Private investment in support facilities is being given strong backing by the government (see Clinica No 683, p 4). In line with the government's stated policy of keeping NHS patient care in the public domain, all clinical services at the trust hospital will continue to be provided by the NHS.