PFI handovers: how we can help the NHS with business continuity planning

NHS Estates and Facilities teams across the UK are starting to grapple with the complexities and operational impacts of soon-to-expire Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs).

Over the next two decades, the rate of PFI contract expiry will only accelerate, giving rise to new challenges. For trusts and health boards that fail to appreciate the level of business continuity planning needed, the consequences could be severe.

But, above all concerns, one stands out: how can service continuity best be guaranteed as PFI contracts reach their expiry?

Understanding the PFI landscape and ensuring continuity of care

Introduced in 1992 and subsequently abolished in 2018, there are 160 PFI funded hospitals and acute health facilities outstanding across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Now, as most of those agreements approach the end of their term, NHS trusts and health boards face the challenge of navigating the huge operational changeover. Assets, facilities, and service delivery will all fall back under the remit of the NHS.

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) urges hospitals to begin their transition planning at least four to seven years before the end of any PFI agreement. Timely preparation and strategic planning are key for complex considerations such as staff workloads and new maintenance responsibilities.

None of this will be straightforward, but there is significant opportunity waiting to be grasped.

The expiry of PFI agreements is a chance for trusts and health boards to move forward with newfound autonomy. Hospitals can start to take charge of their own budget and look to consider the reprovision of services for the trust.

By committing to targeted collaborations, such as the longstanding use of EMS Healthcare’s mobile healthcare units, hospitals can achieve huge successes during complex PFI handovers. They can drive positive change, safeguard patient care, achieve financial efficiencies, support staff welfare, reduce pressures and strains on the NHS – and all without compromising on service quality.

Transition planning and risk management

To best plan how hospitals will deliver clinical services post PFI-contract expiry, trusts and health boards will need to dedicate resources to developing a clear ‘Future Services Strategy’. The aim is to be proactive, not reactive. Replacement service solutions have to be in place before the contract expires.

It is crucial to thoroughly understand procurement timelines and the requirements for the future use of assets and services, especially when they differ from those provided under the PFI agreement, as failing to do so could lead to significant risk.

EMS Healthcare has been proud to support trusts and health boards with future continuity business planning, operational timelines, costing models, and service continuation during pre and post refurbishment works across multiple departments.

Service continuity, temporary capacity, and refurbishment support

As hospitals take over the responsibility for both facilities and healthcare provision, patient demand will not reduce. In an NHS environment, maintaining patient care is crucial, our mobile healthcare units can provide a valuable alternative to closures, refurbishments and decant of facilities. Their effectiveness at mitigating disruption and maintaining patient care standards is proven across several modalities, including Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC), endoscopy, decontamination and renal services.

Mobile units can provide valuable temporary capacity, should refurbishment, decant or rebuild be required in multiple therapy areas. This was the case for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHR Hospitals), which turned to EMS Healthcare’s mobile decontamination unit to avoid a reduction in patient lists and an increase in waiting times during major refurbishment work.

“In the short time the unit’s been on site, it’s already had a hugely positive impact on patient satisfaction,” said Russell Snellgrove, Decontamination Manager at BHR Hospitals. “The trust is operating in line with our two-week waiting time target, and we’ve been able to open a fourth endoscopy procedure room within the hospital as a direct result of increased efficiencies.”

Trusted by NHS trusts and health boards approaching PFI handover

EMS Healthcare has been a trusted NHS partner for over 20 years, providing more than 95 NHS trusts, health boards, and healthcare providers with essential additional clinical capacity across several modalities. Our innovations have enabled the delivery of essential services at both hospital sites and in the heart of local communities.

Need support with continuity planning, or want to learn how our cost-efficient mobile solutions support trusts and health boards in delivering first-class patient care and uninterrupted healthcare delivery, please contact our team.