Backdoor sellout claims
Health chiefs responsible for deciding to close Preston’s mental health unit were today accused of “privatisation through the back door” after it emerged they have joined forces with a private venture firm.
It has emerged that Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, which manages mental health services across the area, has appointed Ryhurst, which specialises in land and asset solutions, as its preferred bidder as a long term estates partner.
The Evening Post revealed how the trust had taken the decision to close the Avondale Unit, based at Royal Preston Hospital and provides adult inpatient care for people with serious mental health issues, by the end of the year.
The move will mean patients and their families will be forced to travel to units elsewhere in the county for inpatient care and campaigners are fighting to get mental health bosses to overturn their decision.
But now protesters fear the planned closure of Avondale will be the first of many as one of the aims of the new partnership has been revealed to be to reduce the trust’s number of sites.
Mental health chiefs today admitted it will be “disposing of surplus facilities” but said it would have done this with or without Ryhurst.”
The move is the first joint venture partnership of its type in England and means Ryhurst and Lancashire Care Trust will be equal shareholders in a joint venture partnership and will form a private company and manage the trust’s 102 sites.
Ryhurst, which evolved from a focus on Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) has stated that one of its three key aims is to “reduce the number of sites the trust uses and deliver estate and asset efficiency benefits for the trust.
Andy Hanson, a former manager of the Avondale Unit who is one of the lead campaigners of the “Save Avondale For Everyone” group, today criticised the partnership and says there is a real danger of more closures.
He said: “It is like taking a mortgage on the whole trust and I think there will be an incentive for Ryhurst to shut units as they will get a cut.”
In a statement, David Hay, managing director of Ryhurst, said: “At a time when NHS Trusts are facing revenue savings targets of around 20% over the next five years, through the creation of a joint venture partnership, Lancashire Care Foundation Trust and Ryhurst will work together to ensure the trust has the quality of estates and facilities services and buildings it needs to deliver its clinical service strategy.
“While it provides a vehicle for investing in new facilities, the partnership is first and foremost about providing services to help the trust deliver high quality care.
“It’s about providing the estates and facilities management services that provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment for all who use the trust’s grounds and buildings.
“However, strategically, we must be in a position to provide the accurate and timely estates information needed to make informed decisions about future services and about the size and shape of their future estate.”
A spokesman for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Lancashire Care has selected Ryhurst as preferred bidder through a lengthy competitive tendering process to act as its partner in a prospective joint venture.
“The primary purpose of this joint venture would be to source capital funding for the trust’s significant service development plans, including new inpatient facilities.
“They will also work with the trust to manage and support our estate and facilities and help us with a range of other potential commercial ventures.
“Far from having a vested interest in closing buildings, they will be working with us to ensure that we have a range of high quality, fit for purpose, well used facilities across Lancashire, many of which will support the work of other public sector organisations.
“At the same time, it is clear that there is an onus on the NHS to ensure that it makes best use of public funding and a number of inadequate, surplus facilities will be disposed of.
“Ryhurst provide additional capacity and capability in that process. Ryhurst’s role is to assist Lancashire Care in achieving our service objectives by providing estates services of the highest quality. It is certainly not privatisation by the back door and this partnership is designed to enhance services.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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