NHS shells out £90m on rent in three years
HEALTH chiefs are spending more than £30million a year on rent.
NHS boards across the country have been forced to take out leases on medical centres, clinics and offices because they cannot cater for all required services in properties they own.
Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that since 2012, £93,964,911 has been spent on rent by the 14 health boards.
Last night politicians described the figures as ‘alarming’ and urged the Government to look into health board spending.
This comes after it was revealed last year that the NHS in Scotland is sitting on millions of pounds worth of empty properties, including former hospital buildings.
Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: ‘When we have bed-blocking, waiting times on the agenda – it is no wonder the public will find this quite alarming.
‘This funding could be going on recruiting more doctors and nurses – something that’s quite desperately needed within the NHS to cut waiting times.’
He added: ‘Patients and taxpayers deserve a better deal and this is something that needs to be looked into by the SNP Government.
‘People will think this is an extraordinary amount to spend on rent on non-hospital buildings – especially when health boards across Scotland own so much of their own property.’
In the three years from 2012, NHS Lothian spent £45,819,818 renting 129 properties.
NHS Grampian revealed that it had spent £14,780,602 on rent since 2012, while the Highland health board admitted to spending £10,866,906.16.
They were followed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which spent £10,214,351. A spokesman for the health board said: ‘The board’s property rentals and leases are being reviewed to identify opportunities to break from them and relocate.’
Individual figures were not available for all health boards. Scottish Labour health spokesman Jenny Marra said: ‘We know that the Edinburgh government have squeezed health spending harder than Westminster so it would be prudent if [Health Minister] Shona Robison could try to reduce the £30million that is escaping through rental payments and make better use of accommodation the NHS already owns.’
George Curley, director of facilities, NHS Lothian, said: ‘We have to ensure that we have enough space to meet the needs of patients on clinical sites and that has meant the use of more off-site office accommodation in recent years.’
He added that a review of office space was under way.
A Scottish Government spokesman said leased property had ‘a role to play’ and comprised 7 per cent of the NHS estate, adding: ‘The Scottish Government would always encourage the NHS to ensure resources are being used as effectively as possible.
‘Extraordinary amount to spend’