Trusts gain more control over their property

New government guidance will allow NHS trusts to apply to own buildings on their estate where it will help speed up improvements to frontline services.

Health Minister Stephen Hammond acknowledged that, in many cases, NHS trusts are best placed to judge how to use their estate to benefit the local community. The move can be actioned where property on a trust’s estate belongs to NHS Property Services (NHSPS) and Community Health Partnerships (CHP).

A large number of properties were passed to NHSPS and CHP in 2013 to reduce running costs and release cash for reinvestment back into the NHS through the sale of surplus assets.

Applicant trusts will need to put forward business cases showing how owning the property will help them use their overall estate more efficiently, improve frontline services from existing buildings and enable faster decision-making on investment in new wards or patient facilities.

Hammond said: “Our Long Term Plan for the NHS sets out how we will ensure people get the most appropriate care in the most appropriate setting, and to achieve that we need to make the best use of our NHS estate. This change will empower trusts to make decisions based on the needs of the local community and deliver faster improvements to frontline services for patients, all while getting the best value for money for taxpayers.

“It will support trusts to invest in development and deliver the Long Term Plan ambition for more joined-up and coordinated care, backed by an extra £33.9 billion per year by 2023 to 2024 to secure the future of the health service.”