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Written question asked by Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 26 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 March 2026. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Monday, 9 March 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

NHS: Private Finance Initiative

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of private finance initiatives on NHS services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answer

Operational health private finance initiatives (PFI) contracts are held by individual trusts. The last PFI contract was signed in 2015.

As announced at the Autumn Budget, the Department is supporting the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority to develop the new Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for neighbourhood health centres (NHCs). The new NHC PPP model will build on lessons from the past, including the National Audit Office’s 2025 report on private finance and other models currently in use. We are not bringing back PFI.

The new PPP model is about delivering the infrastructure to support the delivery of neighbourhood services, and we are not using the private sector to deliver the National Health Service clinical services that will be delivered from these centres.

The need for NHCs will be locally driven and will recognise what already exists and where additional provision or a new combination of services is needed. Any new PPP model will need to demonstrate value for money and affordability.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
116249
Session
2024-26
Subjects
NHS Private finance initiative Surrey Heath
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk