Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Department of Health
Question 21 (Kitty Ussher) Dental facilities in
LIFT developments
There are no formal guidelines on the number
of dental facilities to provide within a LIFT development. Dental
services can be incorporated into LIFT schemes if the local circumstances
mean that it is appropriate and viable to do so, but it is not
compulsory to incorporate dental facilities. Primary care trusts
(PCTs) can offer other assistance to dental practices to improve
access to NHS services, including help with the cost of premises,
if they consider it appropriate to do so. PCTs will have greater
opportunity to support the development of dental services when
they take over responsibility for the local commissioning of all
primary dental care services from April 2006.
Of the 33 LIFT buildings so far open to patients,
11 include a dental facility. For example, the recently opened
Walker Centre in Newcastle provides a community dentist and three
dental training chairs used by students from the local dentist
hospital.
Supplementary question (Mr Richard Bacon)
LIFT Projects Guaranteed Minimum Annual Return
There is no guaranteed minimum annual return
on a LIFT project. The financial model for each individual LIFT
financial close will detail the expected rate of return for the
investors in the LIFT Company. These rates of return are not guaranteed,
but are dependent on the performance of the LIFT Company in managing
its assets and supply chain.
| 
