Ian Whitehouse
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Comment on: Preparing for a DH visit
Agree entirely with the "Queen's Visit" concept - it went on in the 90's when I was in the NHS and I hear of it regularly from those still working in the NHS. However, the ever so slightly cynical comment about PFI indicates a common misunderstanding about PFI. The PFI Unitary Charge (UC) includes a proportion paid to the PFI Consortium for maintenance - painting, replacements, repairs and upgrades etc. The PFI consortium has a contractual responsibility to maintain the fabric of the facility to a pre agreed standard (usually "Condition B" - a commonly used term understood by both the private sector and NHS Estates). Should the money paid to the consortium be insufficient that is the consortium's problem - they must still meet their contractual responsibilities. It is this element that can make a PFI deal appear expensive - historically the NHS has always underspent on maintenance and upkeep of its estate. In a PFI deal the true cost of this maintenance and upkeep is contractual and cannot be used to defray the cost of a new MRI, pay award or clinical initiative. It does mean that at the end of a 30 year PFI deal the NHS will inherit a fully service and useable building, unlike so many 30 year old NHS buildings - which are generally in very poor condition.
