Private sector profit on NHS ‘fire sale’ of assets

Health officials have been accused of drawing up plans for a “fire sale” of NHS assets which could see the private sector profit from hospital land sales.

Proposals to generate £5.7billion by disposing of unwanted land and buildings could see private firms receive a share of the profit, Health Service Journal reports. Private funding could be used to achieve the best price for sales by renovating buildings, or securing planning permission. The NHS’S share would be spent on new buildings, service redesign or clearing a maintenance backlog.