THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRIMARY CARE PREMISES IN WALES


Mallory Armstrong


Mallory Armstrong is Head of Primary Care in NHS Wales Shared Partnership – Facilities Services. John Cooper Photography takes the credit for the Rhyl and Clydach photographs


NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership- Facilities Services


The NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership – Facilities Services (NWSSP-FS) came into existence in April 2011. It was a smooth transition from the organisation formerly known as Welsh Health Estates and since 2004 to the present day the Primary Care Section team members provide professional advice and support to Local Health Boards (LHBs) in respect of primary care property development matters. This article highlights, in pictorial format, examples of the outcome of the development scheme work of the primary care team members over the last 7 years.


NHS in Wales


Seven Local Health Boards and three NHS Trusts are responsible for delivering healthcare services within a geographical area and some provide specific all-Wales Services. The Minister for Health and Social Services retains responsibility and accountability to the National Assembly for Wales for the exercise of all the powers in the portfolio. The seven Local Health Boards are formally accountable to the Minister through the Chief Executive, NHS Wales and are responsible for planning; designing, developing and securing delivery of primary, community, secondary services, to meet identified local needs within the national policy and standards framework set out by the Minister. The Welsh Government’s responsibility for health matters is devolved and therefore is not affected by the UK Government’s reforms. NWSSP-FS has a Service Level Agreement with the Welsh Government to provide them with advice on strategic issues and support to the NHS organisations in respect of the delivery of their operational plans.


NWSSP-FS Primary Care Development Services


The Primary Care Section of Welsh Health Estates was set up in April 2004 with the specific remit of overseeing all primary


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care property development schemes with a capital value of £1m and over. LHBs contact the primary care estate advisors for support and advice in respect of the following areas:


● strategic asset planning and management ● development of project brief


● procurement route and selection process for third party developers


● design and sustainability issues ● commissioning of specialist consultants ● content of the funding bid ● use of the exemplar lease documentation ● procurement, lease and user workshops ● room data sheet completion ● attendance at site meetings ● post-project evaluation ● training and development of LHB primary care staff


Investment in Primary Care Development Schemes


The Welsh Government’s Primary Care Estate Forum was initially set up to receive funding bids from Local Health Boards from 1 April 2004 for all property matters progressed under the National Health Service (General Medical Services – Premises Costs) (Wales) Directions 2004.


Since the Primary Care Estate Forum came into being 45 funding bids for new schemes have


received Ministerial


approval with 27 constructed and occupied by GP practices and LHB community staff as well as other service providers including pharmacists. 18 schemes are currently under construction or due to go on site in the near future.


These schemes represent a capital investment of over £135 million and an on-going revenue commitment of over £7.5 million per annum.


Primary Care Property Procurement


17 specialist third party developer companies (3PDs) have been involved in providing 36 primary care development schemes.


9 schemes have been provided by non-3PDs, including a pharmacist, a building contractor, 3 Housing Associations, 2 by Local Health Boards, and 2 by the individual GP practices in the form of a Do-It-Yourself GP funded procurement route.


Examples of Excellence in Primary Care Development


Port Talbot Resource Centre One of the exemplars of integration of services is the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University LHB’s Port Talbot Primary Care Resource Centre which opened in August 2009.


This landmark development scheme provides an integrated “one stop shop” for a wide range of services in an innovative and modern environment. The centre provides a range


THE TERRIER - Autumn 2011


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