CSG.L Regulatory News (CSG)

20 Nov 2009 07:00



20th November 2009

Express LIFT Investments Limited and NHS Cumbria form first Express LIFT Company

The first LIFT company to be procured through the Express LIFT framework was established today (19/11/09) in Cumbria.

Following their appointment as NHS Cumbria's LIFT partner in October, Express LIFT investments Limited ("ELIL"), part owned by Cyril Sweett Investments Limited, have formally signed contracts with NHS Cumbria and Cumbria County Council to establish a new LIFT company, to be named eLIFT Cumbria Limited, thus setting the benchmark for this exciting new procurement method. 

The new LIFT company has been established to finance and redevelop Cumbria's ageing community hospitals and deliver a range of other health facilities.

eLIFT Cumbria Ltd is now actively engaged in realising the region's strategy for 21st century health and social care and progressing with plans to develop exciting new health care buildings that will bring improvements to both patients and staff. 

This is a long term partnership, a 20 year agreement for eLIFT Cumbria to develop affordable, value for money proposals for new buildings that meet local needs, and for the private sector to provide local services that complement those of the public sector.

New property developed through eLIFT Cumbria will be owned by the public-private partnership, managed by eLIFT Cumbria and leased or rented to a range of health and community tenants, from GPs, dentists and pharmacists to voluntary sector organisations and the local authority. This frees up the public sector to concentrate on delivering the highest quality services. 

Following the establishment of the new LIFTCo, designs and costs are now being progressed to create a schedule of redevelopment for Cumbria's community hospitals and other health infrastructure in areas where patients most need it.

Ken Gill, Managing Director, Cyril Sweett Investments, said:, "We are delighted and proud to have created the first Express LIFT company with our public sector partners. Express LIFT has lived up to its name and having established the partnership in record time we look forward to working with NHS Cumbria and Cumbria County Council to provide facilities and services that support the delivery of health and social care in Cumbria."

Dr. Mike Bewick, Primary Care Medical Director for NHS Cumbria and PCT Director of eLIFT Cumbria Ltd said:

"We are delighted to have formally signed contracts with ELIL to establish our LIFT Company. This offers an opportunity to realise the development of primary care services within Cumbria, fulfilling part of the Closer to Home strategy.

ELIL will bring extensive experience in delivering large infrastructure schemes for the NHS, and we look forward to our new LIFTCo accelerating our plans to re-develop our community hospitals in the most cost effective way.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

1. A public-private partnership company (a LIFTCo) has been established to facilitate the development of new health facilities in Cumbria. Shareholders in the LIFTCo are: - NHS Cumbria (20% shareholding), - ELIL (60% shareholding), - and Community Health Partnerships (20% shareholding). 

2. Express LIFT Investments Limited is a limited company which was created specifically to take part in the Express LIFT National Framework initiative. ELIL is a joint venture that brings together parties who have a first-class record of delivery in the NHS LIFT market place and other Public Private Partnership initiatives. ELIL has been created by the following three organisations: Anagennao Limited, Cyril Sweett Investments Limited and Sutton Harbour Holdings plc.

3. Currently around half of Primary Care Trusts in England are using NHS LIFT to update facilities and build new, modern GP surgeries, health centres and walk-in centres. LIFT enables PCTs and local authorities to develop new capital schemes faster than traditional procurement methods and provides a framework for long-term partnership between the public sector and private sector developers.

4. Express LIFT accelerates this process even further, offering PCTs and local authorities who have not yet conducted their own procurement, the opportunity to select a pre-approved LIFT partner more quickly and cost effectively from the list. Local procurements from the Express LIFT framework can be completed within three or four months as opposed to two years as is currently the case.

5. For more information on ELIL, please visit www.elil.co.uk