Group that builds, maintains and services hospitals throughout UK

CONSORT Healthcare won the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract to build and operate the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in 1996, after a bid by its parent company, Balfour Beatty.

It operates a number of PFIs in hospitals throughout the UK.

Its current concessions, as well as the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Fife General Hospitals and Maternity Services, are Birmingham New Hospitals, Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn, University College London Hospital, University Hospital North Durham, Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals, Hope Hospital, Salford and Tameside General Hospital, Glossop.

Consort is responsible for constructing hospitals, maintenance of the hospital and providing a range of non-clinical services to the NHS, including cleaning, catering and security.

On its website it lists one of its main aims as “Working in partnership with NHS Trusts, Balfour Beatty Capital provide first-class hospital facilities which enable healthcare professionals to concentrate on delivering modern clinical services.”

SHÂN ROSS