Richard joins from The Elliott Group, where he specialised in healthcare projects. He has also spent time as a non-executive director for a Health Authority. Barrie is the former chair of the Britannia Building Society and founder of the £100 million Bernstein Group.

MaST is a £75m public private partnership between Partnerships for Health (part of the Department of Health), the Local Health Economy (comprising six Primary Care Trusts, the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service and three city Councils) and ExcellCare Ltd, the joint venture between Equion and the Bank of Scotland. MaST is one of the first wave projects under the NHS’s Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) initiative.

MaST LIFTCo exists to improve the primary care estate and access to health and social services in the Manchester, Salford and Trafford areas.  Most recently, the company has announced financial close on three healthcare facilities at Brunswick (Central Manchester), Lower Kersal (Salford) and Openshaw (North Manchester), bringing the total number of schemes under  construction to seven. Construction will be complete by the end of 2006 on these facilities and will provide local communities with a wide range of primary health facilities; including dental care, mental health care, podiatry and counselling, in addition to improved GP surgeries. 

The first of the initial four facilities to reach completion is Douglas Green, which is scheduled for September 2005, while the other three facilities at Partington, Benchill and Wythenshawe are scheduled for completion in November and December 2005 and February 2006 respectively. 

“These two senior level appointments mark a significant stage in MaST’s development,” commented Ian Wells, director of ExcellCare. ”Both Richard and Barrie have significant experience and a real focus on customer service and delivery. I am sure, under their guidance, MaST LIFTCo will go from strength to strength.”

“MaST was set up to improve primary healthcare facilities in the region,” added chief executive Richard Groome. “It is my role to direct our strong team and use our skills to best advantage – ensuring that the Manchester, Salford and Trafford region has all inclusive access to first class primary care facilities.”

Ends

For more information:

Anne Sampson/Matthew Moth at Madano

Tel: 020 7593 4000, or: anne.sampson@madano.co.uk

Christine Jones at ExcellCare

Tel: 020 7901 3290

Notes to Editors:

·      Participants in the MaST LIFT Company are:

o      Salford Primary Care Trust
o      Central Manchester Primary Care Trust
o      North Manchester Primary Care Trust
o      South Manchester Primary Care Trust
o      Trafford North Primary Care Trust
o      Trafford South Primary Care Trust
o      Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
o      The Council of the City of Manchester
o      The Council of the City of Salford
o      Greater Manchester Ambulance Service NHS Trust

·       Shareholders in the MaST LIFT Company are:

 ExcellCare Limited
 Partnerships for Health Limited  
 Salford Primary Care Trust
 Central Manchester Primary Care Trust
 South Manchester Primary Care Trust
 Trafford North Primary Care Trust
 Trafford South Primary Care Trust
 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
 The Council of the City of Manchester
 The Council of the City of Salford
 

·   ExcellCare Ltd is a joint venture between Equion and the Bank of Scotland.

·   Equion is a specialist provider of facilities in the PFI and PPP markets with a long-term perspective and approach.

·   Bank of Scotland’s Corporate Infrastructure Finance team is a leading funder of Public Private Partnership projects