Supporting our Local Health Economies – In and Outside of our LIFT estate
When people come across LIFT, it is often thought that the sole purpose is the delivery of new primary health care facilities. However, this is only one part of the extensive support we have effectively provided over our 20-year partnership with local communities and health economy partners.
At this time of significant changes and challenges for the NHS and Social Care, our team often reflects on the transformations we have experienced over the years. More importantly, we focus on the future and how we can continue to support our local health economies in delivering high-quality care to their communities.
Formed in 2004 as a partnership between the private sector and the Secretary of State for Health Community 1st is procurement cleared to provide a wide range of estate services in Oldham, Cornwall and Sheffield. Novel at the time, but at some point, falling out of favour, is it time to re-look at the success and value of a local public private partnership (PPP)?
With capital funding for public sectors projects stalling, PwC have published a new report, ‘Transforming infrastructure investments: A private finance perspective’, aimed at the government to inform policy development and options for future funding for its upcoming 10-year Infrastructure Plan. The report explores the potential for a renewed Public Private Partnership model for blended financing of UK infrastructure. Read more here.
There are many lessons learnt from the LIFT Public Private Partnerships (PPP), which can bring a positive influence into any new PPP Model.
Community 1st remains a ready-made partnership that has evolved over the last 20 years to respond to each and every reform and structural change the NHS has witnessed.
We have endeavoured to ensure we can provide a flexible approach to delivering a wide range of services, from direct appointments for specific estate or FM services, supporting NHS backlog maintenance projects, to arranging finance or developing lease arrangements within our LIFT areas. All of this is key to providing tailored support to our partners when needed, often under tight timescales and financial constraints.
As we anticipate the release of the new 10-Year Health Plan and the upcoming modifications to the NHS and Care structures, we are in the process of strategic and operational planning for services across all our regions. This support encompasses the development of new clinical service strategies across geographic regions and facilitates discussions across sector boundaries to explore the potential for integration and collaboration among service providers. It utilises our LIFT estate as an enabler and also includes the provision of project management support to assist NHS teams in delivering in-house capital works and facilities management on their own estate.
Establishing multi-skilled locally based teams in all our areas has allowed us to develop and nurture long-term successful partnerships, providing not only expertise and additional resources when needed but also a continuity of knowledge, despite many NHS and Social Care reforms.
If you want to read more about our recent work outside of our own LIFT estate, you can find recent news stories here, or if you would like to talk to us about how we could support you please get in touch via community1st.co.uk/get-in-touch/
General Manager
