Funded projects

What we know:We know that partnership-based procurement, via PFI or comparable arrangements, poses particular challenges for the parties involved in these projects. We also know that organisations within the NHS differ in terms of ...

What we know:We know that partnership-based procurement, via PFI or comparable arrangements, poses particular challenges for the parties involved in these projects. We also know that organisations within the NHS differ in terms of cultures and behaviours and that these factors affect performance and partnership working.What we dont know:Public private partnership and organisational cultures and behaviours have hitherto been studied in isolation. Hence we know little about the organisational factors, governance structures and processes which contribute to the success of public-private partnerships.What we will do:The purpose of this study is to develop appropriate measures of success in LIFT procurement and performance, and to apply these measures in the identification of key cultural and behavioural contributory factors. This framework will then be used for making recommendations with regard to Best Practice in LIFT procurement, monitoring and governance.How patients, carers and service users will benefit:This work will enable LIFT participants to improve procurement processes, as well as monitoring and governance arrangements.

Background:The NHS LIFT initiative offers PCTs and other health care providers an opportunity to develop enhanced primary care premises and services in collaboration with private sector partners. Previous research on PFI procurement in the ...

Background:The NHS LIFT initiative offers PCTs and other health care providers an opportunity to develop enhanced primary care premises and services in collaboration with private sector partners. Previous research on PFI procurement in the NHS, and NHS trust performance in general, has highlighted the crucial role of a range of cultural and behavioural factors in determining organisational effectiveness, the ability to successfully cope with innovation and the ability to achieve organisational objectives.Aim:This project seeks to explore the key cultural, behavioural, organisational and processual aspects which influence the success, or otherwise, of a LIFT project and to assess the extent to which LIFT provides an effective means for enhancing primary care premises and services.Method:The study consists of 5 interlocking strands:1) A document analysis focussing on information relating to LIFT projects, such as business cases, planning documentation, contractual information.2) A series of key informant interviews involving high level staff from the DoH, PfH, the 4Ps, Treasury and other decision makers that have been involved in the design, development and implementation of LIFT as a policy instrument.3) Process focused case - unspecific interviews (ca. 30) with a broad range of participants in completed and planned LIFT projects, including public sector clients, Local Authorities and OSC representatives; private sector representatives; GPs, clinical and support staff.4) Outcome - focused case specific interviews (ca. 10) investigating the experiences of the full range of participants in completed LIFT projects. These detailed case studies are likely to elicit a range of relevant information from interviewees and will cover early as well as recently completed LIFT projects.5) A series of case specific user surveys which will gauge the views of patients using and staff working at LIFT facilities. These surveys are likely to focus on those facilities which are part of the detailed case studies and will be conducted face to face by the project researchers.Implications for the NHS: The completed work will provide:1) A mapping of appropriate performance measures through the life cycle of LIFT projects.2) An assessment of the cost effectiveness, stakeholder satisfaction and value for money achieved by LIFT projects.3) The identification of key factors which contribute to the success or otherwise of LIFT projects.4) Recommendations with regard to Best Practice in LIFT procurement, management, monitoring and overall governance and with regard to desirable future developments in these areas.

1: Fitzsimmons, D; Brown, S; Beck, M. Does the UK Local Finance Improvement Trust (LIFT) Initiative improve risk management in public-private procurement. Journal of Risk and Governance 2009;1(2):137-156
2: Fitzsimmons, D; Beck, M; Brown, ...

1: Fitzsimmons, D; Brown, S; Beck, M. Does the UK Local Finance Improvement Trust (LIFT) Initiative improve risk management in public-private procurement. Journal of Risk and Governance 2009;1(2):137-156
2: Fitzsimmons, D; Beck, M; Brown, S; Mannion, R; Lunt, N. UpLIFTing PFI: Does LIFT improve risk management in public private procurement?. Systemist,The 2008;30(2):117-136