08 May 2017
As manifestos from all of the parties begin to emerge, take a look at our key asks of government for GP surgery buildings and other primary care premises – to make sure they’re fit for the NHS of the future:
- Get down to details: make sure that STP delivery plans really get down to business on the estate they’re going to need to deliver the new models of care they’ve set out, and how that estate will be created. It’s a no-brainer that there won’t be anywhere near enough capital in the pot: allow STPs the freedom to explore different ways of funding improvements and extensions to existing buildings, or to develop new premises where they need to.
- Support the new NHS property board to move swiftly into action: this support mechanism to help STPs find funding and delivery solutions for their emerging estates plans has enormous potential. Don’t lose the momentum started by Sir Robert Naylor’s recent recommendations.
- Accept that fit-for-purpose surgery buildings will cost more than a renovated domestic property: you get what you pay for, as the saying goes – but with premises specifically designed for the job of general practice, GPs and wider primary care teams are better equipped to do their job, and the space is there to deliver services traditionally run from hospitals closer to home.
- Keep capital for capital: in line with Sir Robert Naylor’s recommendations, develop a capital investment plan for NHS estate this summer, using the private sector to help raise the sums required – particularly when it comes to primary care premises.
- Ensure 3PD is in the funding mix. It can help mitigate the impact for estate of backfilling NHS revenue gaps with capital. It’s more efficient – particularly on smaller projects – than other public-private partnership models. It gets the job done quickly. It strives to use local labour and materials, allows GPs to focus on their patients rather than building projects, and moves risk and liabilities away from the taxpayer.
- Deliver the long-awaited changes to GP Premises Cost Directions, so that desperately-needed new developments and improvements to surgery buildings can progress more quickly.
Read what we said on Sir Robert Naylor’s review of NHS land and estate