17.07.18
Two ‘outstanding’ foundation trusts sign landmark deal with Chinese real estate firm
A partnership between two major UK foundation trusts and a Chinese real estate firm has been officially signed, paving the way for joined-up health and care in state-of-the-art facilities in China.
The unlikely deal between Northumbria Healthcare FT, Northumberland County Council, The Christie NHS FT and Chinese developer The Rongqiao Group and architects BDP aims to see UK partners supporting the group with all elements of building a world-class hospital with a cancer centre of excellence in Fuzhou Province.
The Rongqiao Group has sought NHS expertise to help it move into healthcare. It plans to invest more than £1bn to build 10 hospitals across China.
For many years, Northumbria Healthcare and the county council have worked together as ‘Northumbria’ in a unique collaboration to provide integrated health and social care, ensuring patients move seamlessly from hospital to home, and they are keen to share this expertise internationally.
Alan Richardson, chairman of Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT, said: “We are delighted that the contract for the first stage of our partnership has been signed and we can move forward with our plans to support our colleagues in China.
“Drawing on our vast experience of providing joined-up health and social care for our patients and creating new ways of working to benefit our communities, we look forward to working with them to progress a true NHS partnership approach to international development.”
Roger Spencer, chief executive officer at The Christie, added: “As an international comprehensive cancer centre, our ambition is to be the partner of choice in offering specialist cancer expertise to support the development of the highest quality cancer care in China.”
Jared Djuhar, director of Rongqiao Group, argued that agreeing the partnership represents “a major step forward” for its long-term vision to support improved medical care in China. He continued: “Both Northumbria and the Christie are rated as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC and we look forward to progressing our work with them.”
BDP, a major international practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists, will provide architecture and design services for the project. It has studios across the world and has supported many NHS organisations in the UK to create facilities for improved care.
Andrew Smith, head of healthcare at BDP, said: “BDP looks forward to the opportunity of working with Northumbria, The Christie and the Rongqiao Group. We are excited about the prospect of collaborating with the NHS to bring UK hospital experience to the Chinese healthcare market.”
Peter Jackson, leader of the county council, said Northumberland is “at the forefront of providing health and social care in England,” adding it is with great honour to support other countries to develop their capabilities within the health and care sector.
He noted: “We are thrilled to be working collaboratively with a number of partners which brings welcome income into the health and care services which is then reinvested in care for patients and service users across Northumberland.”