A commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to explore private sector partnerships to build new neighbourhood health centres has been welcomed by investors.

A central component of the plan is to establish a neighbourhood health centre in every community as a ‘one-stop shop' for patient care from which multidisciplinary teams can operate.

The plan also commits to developing the business case for the use of public private partnerships for the centres ahead of a final decision in the Autumn Budget.

Lord John Hutton, the former health minister who now chairs the Association of Infrastructure Investors in Public Private Partnerships, said: ‘With the NHS repair backlog now exceeding £14bn, it is welcome that the plan commits to exploring new partnerships with the private sector to build new neigbourhood health centres. Private investors stand ready to deliver on the Government's ambitions. 

‘Programmes like NHS LIFT which built 350 health centres in some of the most deprived communities offered clear long-term benefits to the public and value for money according to the NAO.'

Lord Hutton said investors would also welcome partnerships extended to acute care given the delays to the New Hospital Programme.

Speaking at NHS ConfedExpo in June, health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said he would look at the evidence being put forward for private investment in renewing NHS hospitals.

Lord Hutton added: ‘There is a huge opportunity to cut the thousands of clinical service incidents each year caused by infrastructure failings and give the public the NHS it deserves.'