Independent hospitals group BMI Healthcare says its programme to grow its Scottish operations is based on delivering private healthcare rather than an expectation that it will be commissioned to take a bigger role in dealing with NHS Scotland’s treatment backlog.

The company is to invest more than £20m creating a new hospital in the Titanium building at the Braehead Business Park in Glasgow close to its existing Ross Hall Hospital.

Just last week a ‘lessons learned’ review commissioned by the government suggested ministers should “consider the impact of non-NHS involvement on addressing backlogs of care” after the pandemic.

Private hospital groups received millions from the Scottish government as part of a covid deal that allowed the most important procedures to go ahead.

Before the pandemic the Scottish government had instructed NHS boards to use private hospitals to bring down waiting times.

Mhairi Jefferies, Executive Director of BMI Healthcare, says the new Ross Hall Braehead hospital will allow it to deliver services to more patients, while not ruling out further expansion on the existing Ross Hall site:

“Ross Hall Braehead will provide much needed space for future development. There is a great opportunity for growth at Ross Hall's existing site on Crookston Road and now with Ross Hall Braehead we are confident that this is a positive step for us and will future-proof the ongoing success of the business.”

Ministers have promised a plan in the coming days setting out how NHS activity will be increased to 110% of its pre-pandemic levels.

healthandcare.scot asked BMI about its relationship with the NHS and whether it expected to have a role in addressing the capacity issues that the health service in Scotland is facing.

Ms Jefferies said BMI’s “main activity” was private healthcare but added: “We have, at times, supported the NHS over the years and are happy to continue to do so.”

The 3100 m² Titanium building at Braehead Business Park was originally earmarked for office accommodation.

When fully kitted out it will house purpose-built facilities including two operating theatres, recovery wards and an outpatient and diagnostics centre which will include high specification MRI scanners. The company says its ophthalmology service on the site will be amongst the most advanced on offer anywhere in the UK.

Ms Jefferies says there is no disadvantage in taking on our building that was originally being envisaged as an office:

“The building at Braehead is a blank canvas on the inside. This has given us the freedom to design the interior exactly as we want.

“We hope that the building work will be completed mid-December 2021 and that we will be open for business in early January 2022.”

The existing Ross Hall, which first opened in 1983, is one of four BMI Circle Health Group hospitals in Scotland. The estate also includes Kings Park in Stirling, Carrick Glen in Ayr and Albyn in Aberdeen.

Read more: Government reveals new private hospital contract costs; Fears over forgotten diagnostic test backlog; Growing radiologist shortfall risk to patients.

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