LIFT projects
LIFT which stands for Local Improvement Finance Trust, is a major new initiative from the Department of Health to invest a minimum of £1 billion nationally in primary care accommodation.
It aims to radically improve how and where health and social care is provided by stimulating investment in modern, integrated primary care and other community-based services, such as social services and the voluntary sector.
The initiative is led by Partnerships for Health (PfH), a joint venture between the Department of Health and Partnerships UK. The objective is to help the primary care sector by transferring responsibility for providing and maintaining primary care facilities from GPs and other end-users to specialist companies (LIFTCOs). The LIFTCOs will help the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to establish and carry out a Strategic Services Development Plan (SSDP) for each PCT area.
The private sector bids for long-term concessions to provide partnering and other services to the LIFTCOs, and subscribe to at least 60% of the LIFTCOs’ equity. The balance of the equity is held by PfH (20%) and local participants (20%).
There are currently over 40 LIFT schemes underway in England, representing the £1bn investment, in which the private sector is taking responsibility for developing all new primary care facilities in the LIFTCO region for the entire concession period, market testing the supply chain at regular intervals.
GSL is a partner within four of the ongoing LIFT companies. (GSL and Babcock and Brown’s LIFT contracts.)
Partnering relationships
Through LIFT GSL is at the forefront of this innovative 'Partnering' form of contractual relationship where a joint venture company is formed by the private and public sector participants.
GSL and Babcock & Brown have formed a partnership to deliver the services in the LIFT projects. Babcock & Brown leads on legal, financial, construction and property issues. GSL leads on partnering, operating (building maintenance), lifecycle and healthcare issues.
GSL has developed a whole-system approach to healthcare combining our core competencies – people care, business support services, commercial risk management, accommodation management and integrated service solutions – with specialist expertise in the form of developed relationships with strategic partners.
These partners include healthcare planners, healthcare professionals (both clinical and non-clinical), specialist planning advisors, design consultants, environmental consultants, clinical staff providers, community and voluntary sector organisations and temporary facility providers. Working in partnership through the LIFT companies we are able to assemble a team to meet any requirement.
Strategic partnering agreement
The foundation of the LIFT partnership is the Strategic Partnering Agreement which governs:
- how partnering services are provided by the private sector providers, including estate management, estate planning, service planning, property development, supply chain management, strategic development etc
- how new schemes are brought to the Strategic Development Board, approved and developed
In addition to acting as a hands-on private sector shareholder within the LIFT companies GSL provides a range of FM service to the operational facilities that include:
- planned preventative maintenance
- reactive maintenance
- energy and utility management
- minor works
- asset management
- lifecycle
In the future soft FM services such as cleaning and security are likely to be provided to give an integrated FM service to tenants.
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GSL’s LIFT contracts
GSL and Babcock & Brown have been successful in bidding for four LIFT contracts all of which are now operational:
- East London and the City
- Wolverhampton and Walsall
- Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich
- Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon
LIFT funding will not only provide new facilities for GPs and their patients but will allow practices to leave existing premises which may have long leases that cannot be terminated easily. LIFT will be able to buy out these leases enabling the doctors to move.
The new premises will be owned by the LIFT scheme offering doctors and other practitioners who use them flexible leases freeing them from concern about issues such as maintenance and allowing them to concentrate on their real job of treating patients.
LIFT allows for much-needed investment establishing a range of brand new types of health and social care facilities bringing primary and community services and where possible social services together under one roof to make access more convenient for patients.