The NHS has been boosted by more than £700m of investment in its estates, as part of a partnership with Crown Commercial Service (CCS).
CCS partnered with NHS England last March to launch an agreement which recognised the importance of public sector constructions that support economic recovery and provided healthcare organisations in England with a new method of procurement.
Now, a year later, 17 projects have been funded to the tune of £708m, with a further £780m set aside for another 27 projects later down the line.
Deputy Director for Construction at CCS, John Welch, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to collaborate successfully with our partners at NHS England over the last 12 months as we help to support trusts with their capital programmes.
“This shows the benefits of engaging with CCS, adding greater value for the public sector and helping NHS England deliver the projects the public need. We look forward to this continued partnership and providing savings for our customers and the public.”
Three of the projects that have been awarded via the agreement include:
- A new build initiative for the Women and Children’s Department at Countess of Chester Hospital.
- A new Clinical Diagnostic Centre at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
- A new Elective Theatres scheme at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
NHS England’s Director of Estates and Facilities and Head of Profession, Simon Corben, added: “It’s been a successful first year of the collaboration between NHS England and CCS to provide a tried-and-tested route to market for NHS capital projects through ProCure23.
“Together, we are making it easier to increase our estate’s capacity through new builds, address backlog maintenance, and reconfigure spaces to better meet the health and care needs of our local communities. With lots in the pipeline, I look forward to seeing the benefits we can deliver in terms of a fit for purpose estate and excellent patient care.”
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