NHS LIFT

NHS LIFT is a vehicle for improving and developing frontline primary, community and social care facilities. It allows Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities to co-invest in providing community based new premises in new locations, not merely reproducing existing types of service. It is providing patients with modern integrated health and social care services in high quality, fit for purpose premises.

Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS LIFT 

Robertson Capital Projects is the private sector partner on the £45M Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS LIFT project, working with four individual public sector client partners and the Department of Health to develop a range of community based NHS and Local Authority accommodation in North East England, often involving extensive co-location of services and sharing of facilities.

The project places significant emphasis on partnership working arrangements, including the formation of a dedicated company (NNT LIFTCo) with four permanent employees to liaise with public sector clients and manage a local supply chain; a board of directors to oversee the company's ongoing performance; and a Strategic Partnering Board which takes responsibility for providing details on the future development programme ambitions of each of the four respective client bodies and subsequently assumes responsibility for approving future phases in line with pre-determined criteria. To date the following phases have reached financial close:

Phase 1 - 4 Primary Care Resource Centres built and operational
Phase 2 - 4 Joint Service Centres built and operational
Phase 3 - 2 Joint Service Centres are at planning stage

These centres include a range of public sector services including GP practices, social care services, libraries, housing and social services offices, dentists, community nursing facilities, council offices, multi-function treatment/consulting rooms, ante natal services and mental health facilities.

Designing buildings in this "one-stop-shop" approach allows for high quality patient and community care in a centralised local environment with easy-access to modern health care services housing a wide range of healthcare professionals. It also benefits from best use and affordability of new modern facilities and equipment, as well as shared knowledge between on-site professionals. This results in better standards of healthcare for all, improved working conditions for staff and environmental, time and cost efficiencies.

Newcastle PCT, North Tyneside PCT, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council and the Department of Health are shareholders in the SPV.

Further details are available at www.nntlift.co.uk and the Projects Section of our site