5. The NHS should undertake a systematic post-contract review of advisers' costs on each PFI hospital deal. The NHS Executive should use these evaluations to monitor the progress which is being made in reducing advisory costs.
6. In November 2000, we had recommended departments to secure 50:50 shares of refinancing gains. It subsequently took the Office of Government Commerce 20 months to issue detailed guidance to that effect. During that interval, this deal was signed providing for the public sector to receive only a 30% share of refinancing gains. Public authorities need to ensure that all their PFI contracts include arrangements to share refinancing gains 50:50.
7. In this deal the preferred bidder agreed to hold its price for seven months but it took the Trust eleven months to close the deal. The price increased after the commitment period had expired so the price commitment only had limited effect. The principle of securing a price commitment to deter "deal creep" is good, but a department using that approach needs to be sure it can close the deal while the commitment still holds.