On the 20th anniversary of the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme, partners have called on the government to set out a clear commitment to the future of the model.

The LIFT Council, the representative body for NHS LIFTCos in England, has published the Five-Year Forward View for the LIFT programme, which outlines its strategic priorities from the government and health service leaders, including the crucial end of term period.

These priorities are: a clear expression of support for the future of LIFT; a role for third-party providers from the LIFT estate in developing Cavell Centre pilots; use of the NHS LIFT model to support activities in health care infrastructure, such as the 40 new hospitals programme; use of the NHS LIFT model as a key tool to create Integrated Care Systems (ICS) through the Health and Social Care Bill; and effective local public sector partnerships with the creation of Integrated Care Systems.

The Five-Year Forward View also details how the LIFT model is more than just a delivery vehicle with the expertise of the 49 LIFTCos across England able to play an important role in supporting our NHS across a variety of areas. These include: integrating services, infrastructure planning, the post-pandemic recovery and enabling the move to net zero.

Sarah Beaumont-Smith, chair of The LIFT Council, said: “After two successful decades of supporting the NHS and local communities, the end of LIFT’s 25-year team is approaching in a number of areas, but we see this as a beginning not an end - The LIFT Council members are clear in our commitment to continue working with our public sector partners, in contrary to the cut and run charge that is all too often laid at the door of third-party providers. We are excited by the opportunities presented by the Cavell Centre pioneers, which will build on the successes of the LIFT estate and hope to play a role in the next wave of delivering primary and community care.”