1 The National Audit Office examined the extent to which the PFI contract for the West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust redevelopment is likely to deliver value for money and the Trust's management of this project.
2 We used an issue analysis approach to design the scope and nature of the evidence required to complete this examination. That is, we set a series of high-level audit questions that we considered it would be necessary to answer to assess the success or otherwise of the procurement, and collected evidence accordingly. For each of the top-level questions, we identified a subsidiary group of questions, linked logically to the main questions, to direct our detailed work and analysis. Our general report Examining the value for money of deals under the Private Finance Initiative (HC 739, 1998-99) provides an outline of this general methodology which acts as a starting point for all of our PFI examinations. We also drew on relevant issues covered in our other PFI reports, particularly our report on the PFI contract for the New Dartford and Gravesham Hospital (HC423, 1998-99) and those dealing with accommodation projects or the financing of large PFI deals.
3 The top-level questions we set were:
■ Did the Trust learn lessons from the early hospital PFI deals in planning the procurement?
■ Did the Trust undertake an effective procurement?
■ Did the Trust obtain the best deal available?
4 Our main evidence has been derived from examining documents provided for us by the Trust and the Department, interviews with relevant staff within the Trust, the appropriate Health Authorities, the Regional Office and the Department. We also spoke to local stakeholders, such as Community Health Councils and Primary Care Groups, as well as the Trust's advisers and the bidders for the deal.