Official figures have revealed that the NHS has spent almost £4 million on property taxes for empty buildings over the past three years. NHS Property Services statistics show that dozens of hospitals, GP surgeries, nursing homes, and office blocks are lying vacant. This information, obtained through a Freedom of Information request from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, highlights the potential waste of funds that could have instead been used to cover the salaries of junior doctors and newly-qualified nurses. The neglected estate, consisting of 77 buildings, is valued at £40 million by the NHS. Experts are urging the health service to prioritize the quick sale of these sites. Neglected estates include Bootham Park Hospital in Yorkshire, Guisborough General Hospital in Cleveland, and the westgate annex of Edgware Community Hospital and meadow suite at Babington Hospital in Derbyshire. According to the Freedom of Information data, the NHS paid £1.2 million in property taxes in 2020/21, £1.5 million in 2021/22, and £1.2 million in 2022/23. Of the 77 sites, 50 have been identified for sale, with an estimated market value of around £40 million. The remaining 27 sites are subject to a strategic review for future NHS requirements, according to NHS Property Services. Over two-thirds of the sites were previously parts of hospitals, health centers, or nursing and care homes. One vacant site is even listed as a swimming pool. NHS Property Services, established in 2013, manages around 2,700 assets across England. The organization’s mandate includes keeping costs to a minimum and passing back savings to the NHS.
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