Newsroom

An international consortium including the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System, one of the leading healthcare systems in the United States, OR International, a New York-based developer of specialty surgical hospitals, and Atkins, a global provider of construction services, has been identified by the National Health Service as the preferred bidder to develop and operate two specialty surgical hospitals in England.

The multi-year project is part of a broader announcement made today by the British government to create 26 high quality, fast-track treatment centers in the U.K. using leading international health-care development teams. These centers, or as they are called in the U.S., specialty surgical hospitals, are part of the National Health Service's Independent Sector Treatment Center Program, and will reduce the waiting time for surgery, which for some procedures can be as long as 12 months, improve choice and outcomes for patients and will treat an estimated 250,000 patients per year.

"This is an exciting opportunity to share best practice protocols and medical innovations on both sides of the Atlantic," said Dr. Herbert Pardes, President and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

"We are pleased to be able to join forces with Atkins and OR International to help develop this service, which, in partnership with the National Health Service, will give patients faster access to the highest quality care," said Dr. Arthur A. Klein, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

The consortium will set up and run two surgical hospitals that focus primarily on orthopedics. One, located on the campus of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust in North London, will have three operating theaters and 30 beds. It will treat 4,500 cases annually, including joint replacements, arthroscopic procedures, and other orthopedic procedures, mostly ambulatory. The second hospital will also be a stand-alone facility and will be sponsored by the Mendip Primary Care Trust in the county of Somerset. It will feature four operating theaters and 32 beds, and treat 10,000 cases annually. Both centers are expected to accept NHS patients in the third quarter, 2004.

"These projects will add needed, new capacity to the NHS for handling orthopedic cases and will establish distinctive centers known for their approach to care and excellence as well as new innovative approaches to orthopedic surgery including minimally invasive joint replacements," said Jonathan Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of the New York-based OR International. "Our success will depend on the establishment of a strong relationship between our consortium, the sponsoring health care organizations in England, and National Health Services program staff in the UK."

Each consortium member will have a defined role in developing the two centers. OR International will serve as project manager and general partner. It will oversee recruitment of surgeons, physicians and other staff. The NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and Hospital will help develop and oversee the centers' quality assurance infrastructure and protocols of care. It will also establish a training program for the professional staff and will help recruit surgeons and physicians. Atkins will oversee the development of both facilities and provide the ongoing facilities management services for both hospitals.

"We are delighted to be able to continue our relationship with the NHS, for whom we have designed, constructed, and facility-managed a number of major health projects throughout the U.K. We welcome the opportunity to develop these much needed facilities that will deliver innovative and consistent high-quality medical care to patients in the U.K.," said Roger Bridgeman, Director for Atkins Programme Management.

NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System

The NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System, the largest secular not-for-profit non-governmental healthcare system in the U.S., is committed to providing high-quality, cost-effective, and accessible care to communities throughout the greater New York Metropolitan region. The System, made up of 35 acute care hospitals, 100 ambulatory sites, 15 residential healthcare facilities, three specialty institutions, and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians, serves one in four patients in the Greater New York Metropolitan Area. The System is also the largest not-for-profit employer in New York City. System members are affiliates of the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University or Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. During 2002, System institutions discharged close to 500,000 inpatient cases and saw more than 5,000,000 cases on an outpatient basis.

OR International

OR International is a developer of specialty surgical hospitals around the globe. It brings together the best talents in the medical community with some of the most innovative and cutting-edge architects and space planners in the business. For additional information, visit www.orintl.com/ or contact them at [email protected].

Atkins

Atkins is on the world's leading providers of professional, technologically based consultancy and support services. Atkins operates around the world and employs 15,000 permanent staff. It has extensive experience developing transport, healthcare, education and custodial facilities for the British Government through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) program. They have previously contracted with the NHS for the design, construction, and facilities management at both the Wythenshawe and Hereford hospitals. For additional information, visit www.atkinsglobal.com.

For more information on the UK Department of Health, visit www.doh.gov.uk.
For more information on the National Health Service, visit www.nhs.uk.