July 1998

Mike O’Brien, Managing Director of Healthcare Group, gave the keynote speech at the "Opportunities for Modernisation and Experiences of the British Health Service" Seminar held in Lisbon on 21 April 1998.

The Seminar was organised by the British Embassy in Lisbon, and the Department of Trade and Industry in London, in collaboration with the Directorate General for Health Facilities and Equipment.

The Seminar was attended by some 240 people from across the Healthcare Sector in Portugal, including Government ministers and officials, hospital administrators and doctors, building contractors and service providers.

Healthcare Group was well supported at the Seminar, as the Healthcare Group UK PFI Health Consortium was also represented by 2 directors of CIBC Wood Gundy Oppenheimer, and 3 directors of Northcroft.

Mike O’Brien spoke on the subject of "Hospital Private Finance Initiative". The speech outlined the UK experience of using PFI for the provision of new hospitals and health facilities, and included general advice on the most appropriate format for involving PFI in hospital developments on a worldwide basis.

Mike O’Brien particularly emphasised the time and cost issues that were experienced in the early days of UK PFI Hospitals, and suggested ways that other countries could avoid these problems.

Healthcare Group and their associates are very keen to be involved in PFI projects on a worldwide basis, and similar seminars in other countries are planned for the future.

Please contact Mike O’Brien, Managing Director of Healthcare Group, for full details of this speech.