Firms urged to bid for new Sick Kids

PRIVATE firms have been invited to bid for the contract to build the new Sick Kids at Little France.

NHS Lothian published an advertisement through Public Contracts Scotland and in the Official Journal of the European Union to seek a partner for the project.

The successful bidder will also design, finance and maintain the building, which will be situated alongside the Royal Infirmary and incorporate NHS Lothian’s department of clinical neurosciences and child and adolescent mental health facilities at Little France.

It is hoped that bringing the services together on the same site will cut the need for emergency transfers across the city and improve opportunities to share expertise and experience.

Interested parties will complete a pre-qualification questionnaire. Three organisations will be selected and take part in a competitive dialogue process in spring next year.

Susan Goldsmith, NHS Lothian finance director, said: “We are looking for a private sector partner who understands our vision of providing a safe, comforting and healing environment.”