Government NHS White Paper

RNS Number : 3011P

Primary Health Properties PLC

14 July 2010

 



Primary Health Properties Plc

("PHP" or the "Company")

Government NHS White Paper

Primary Health Properties PLC, one of the UK's largest providers of modern, purpose built primary healthcare facilities, notes the initiatives announced on Monday 12 July by Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, in the Department of Health's White Paper, 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS'. The White Paper proposes the creation of a regulated market in the purchasing and provision of care via the creation of several hundred GP consortia, which will be overseen by an independent, NHS Commissioning Board (the "Commissioning Board") and a new economic regulator. The Commissioning Board, which will have the status of a Special Health Authority, will take over all aspects of GP and Dentist contracts including premises.

The Company believes that the greatly enhanced role of the GP in the provision of NHS services will propel significantly the increasing demand for modern, purpose-built premises befitting a modern health service environment, which has the potential to create substantial opportunities for PHP.

It will also continue the paradigm shift from old style GP services to quasi clinical and diagnostics centres.

The Company believes that the allocation of responsibility to family doctors to buy care for NHS patients will be of significant benefit to PHP as the proposed transfer of responsibility will underpin further demand for modern purpose built, larger, primary healthcare facilities. As such, PHP believes the primary care market remains extremely attractive due to the inherent protection in the income.

As one of the UK's largest private sector providers of modern primary healthcare facilities, PHP believes it is well placed to meet this [new] demand. The efficient provision of primary care facilities is a key objective that PHP shares with the Government.

PHP has a strong track record in providing bespoke healthcare centres for the primary healthcare sector and is committed to increasing its portfolio of properties across the UK.  PHP is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities across the UK through the acquisition of suitable investment properties or funding new development.

PHP looks forward to reporting its half yearly results on 18 August 2010.

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Enquiries:

Pelham Bell Pottinger

David Rydell / Victoria Geoghegan

Tel: [phone]

Primary Health Properties PLC

Harry Hyman, Managing Director

Tel: [phone] / Mobile: [phone]

 

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