International law firm Reed Smith LLP (Reed Smith) today announced its role working with Nations Healthcare on its agreement with a group of NHS Primary Care Trusts in the North of England to build and run an innovative new treatment centre.

This development is part of the Government’s much publicized Independent Sector Treatment Centre Programme, and is set to offer nearly 6,000 NHS patients each year more choice and improved, faster treatment in gastroenterology, general surgery, urology, orthopaedics, ENT, plastics and gynaecology. The new centre, to be built in Eccleshill, Bradford, will also be home to state of the art diagnostics equipment, including MRI and CT scanners, which will benefit more than 14,000 NHS patients a year.

Edward Miller, Corporate Partner at Reed Smith’s London office commented: "We were privileged to have this opportunity to work with Nations Healthcare, the NHS and other interested parties in putting together this novel structure for the very first new build Independent Sector Treatment Centre to be contracted as a public private partnership with the NHS."

Reed Smith’s team was led by Miller who was assisted by Doug Rofe (finance), Jonathan Wright (real estate), Jennifer O’Brien (commercial) and others. The Reed Smith team worked closely with newly appointed Nations Healthcare General Counsel, John Muolo.

Others involved in this transaction included: Addleshaw Goddard who acted for the NHS Primary Care Trusts and the Department of Health; Pinsents who acted for the West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority; and Eversheds who advised funder/developer, Orion Capital Management.