The Trust has entered into a PFI partnership with Key Health Services (Addenbrooke's) Ltd, to build Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre and Institute of Metabolic Science (previously CIDEM).
PFI is a means by which the private sector can provide serviced facilities to the public sector without having to commit large amounts of public money in advance. It works in a similar way to a mortgage: money is borrowed and paid back in monthly instalments over a period of 30 years.
However, it is more than just a mortgage, in addition to paying back the interest and capital borrowed to build the Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, the monthly payment also includes an element of lifecycle and Facilities Management costs. The lifecycle costs will pay for planned equipment upgrades / replacements in the building, such as operating theatres and lifts, and the Facilities Management costs will ensure the equipment is subjected to regular maintenance and the building walls and floors are kept in a pristine condition.
At the end of the 30 years, the building returns to the Trust in a condition which is specified as being virtually as new.
Whereas some PFI contracts involve the complete handover of all non-clinical support services to the private sector (such as the Norfolk and Norwich), only the building, equipment and plant management elements of Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre development has been transferred to the private sector. The receptionists, post, porters, telephony, PALS, cleaning, catering and security will still be provided by Addenbrooke's staff, as will all the clinical staff, such as doctors and nurses.
