MaST (Manchester, Salford and Trafford) is one of the largest and most ambitious LIFT projects involving three primary care trusts and three local authorities as Shareholders. It was set up in July 2004 to provide an accessible health service based around patients’ needs with integrated primary, community and social care services.
The existing estate was deemed not compatible with what is necessary for today’s health service, in that approximately 80% of the premises were below recommended size, fewer than 5% of GP services were close to a pharmacy or social services provision, more than half of GP surgeries were adapted from residential or retail buildings and few premises complied with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
John Laing delivered the MaST LIFT project through Primary Plus, its joint venture with the Bank of Scotland. John Laing sold Primary Plus (Holdings) Ltd to a consortium of Equitix and Community Solutions in October 2011. Working alongside the Primary Plus Management Team, it designed, constructed and financed 12 health centres, which between them provide GP surgeries, dentists, pharmacies and community services. Some also provide leisure, library, council and café facilities, with one even providing a minor operations suite. Financial Close was achieved in February 2004.
This £77.2 million project is mainly financed under a 25 year period, with three of the centres extending to 30 years. John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) provides hard facilities management for the project.
All twelve buildings planned for MaST through the Public Sector’s Strategic Services Development Plan are now fully operational.
