£12m deal secures hospital’s future
Health chiefs buy company’s assets
Health bosses have snapped up a community hospital in a £12 million deal.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran chiefs bought East Ayrshire Community Hospital in Cumnock, pictured right.
The hospital had been owned by Cumnock SPV Limited (and Cumnock SPV Holdings Limited), who also operated the hospital following a Public Finance Initiative (PFI) contract since August 2000.
The hospital had originally been procured through one of the first PFI health contracts in Scotland.
The acquisition of the company, including all its building assets, from BAM PPP, has been fully funded by the Scottish Government. The deal allows the ownership of the facility and property interests to be secured in advance of the end of the existing PFI contract in August 2025.
Scottish health secretary, Humza Yousaf, said: “Community hospitals enable many patients to receive the vital care they need closer to home, so I’m pleased this investment of £12m from the Scottish Government secures the future of this hospital for the people of East Ayrshire.
“As we remobilise and implement our NHS Recovery Plan, we want to see as much health care as possible provided in the community.
“The important role centres like East Ayrshire Community Hospital have in delivering that will only increase as we invest £10 billion over the next decade to replace and refurbish health facilities across Scotland.”
Outgoing health board chief executive, John Burns, said: “East Ayrshire Community Hospital has been central to the provision of health services to the citizens of East Ayrshire since it opened in 2000. This acquisition give us a tremendous opportunity to further develop long-term health services to best meet the needs of the those living in East Ayrshire. This is the first major investment of the Caring for Ayrshire programme, and gives us a wonderful opportunity to shape with our communities the way we deliver care in the future.
“East Ayrshire Community Hospital is a core hub within the Caring for Ayrshire programme, and we will continue to work closely with our staff, colleagues, locality planning groups and the wider community to influence and participate in designing services for those living in East Ayrshire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank BAM PPP for their flexibility in reaching this agreement and for their role in the 20-year partnership in operating East Ayrshire Community Hospital.”
The facility’s management services will continue to be delivered by the current provider, BAM FM, until 2025, with no staff changes on site.
East Ayrshire Community Hospital has been central to the provision of health services