PART THREE There are mechanisms in place to check future value for money and to respond to changing health needs

3.1  Future decisions on health provision have to take into account that any hospital, whatever the form of procurement, represents a major investment for the NHS. In this PFI contract the Trust is also committed to a total of 32 years22 of payment to THC Dartford for the hospital facilities and associated facilities management services. There are mechanisms in place to allow assessment of the value for money being provided. The project has not yet reached the stage where these have been fully tested, however, and maintaining value for money will depend on the Trust making effective future use of these mechanisms. Over the period of the contract it is also inevitable that there will be changes in the level and type of services which the NHS provides, which will in turn affect the scale and nature of the work at the hospital. It will be possible for the Trust to seek to renegotiate payments either up or down, should its level of health care services alter. To date, the hospital is expanding with a programme of new building using different procurement methods.

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22  The minimum contract period is now 35 years. During the first three years the hospital was being constructed and no payments were due during this period. The Trust is committed to payments for the remaining 32 years.