MP demands Government take responsibility for NHS Property Services

Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord has demanded the Government step up and take responsibility for the oversight of NHS Property Services, after a debate in Parliament where Ministers once again tried to distance themselves from the company.

On Friday 23rd February, Richard Foord held a debate in Parliament on the accountability of NHS Property Services. This is a government-owned company, responsible for the management and rental arrangements for local healthcare facilities – including Seaton Hospital.

In the debate, Mr Foord called for greater flexibility when it comes to the cost of renting buildings from NHS Property Services – which currently charges £247 per square metre. Foord called in the debate for a concessionary rate for local and community groups.

He also posed three clear questions to the Health Minister Andrew Stephenson.

• Does the Department for Health and Social Care set the rate at which NHS Property Services rents out facilities?
• Can this Charging Policy be changed by the Secretary of State?
• And why are Ministers refusing to hold their hands up when it comes to the relationship between the Department and NHSPS?

The Minister failed to answer any of Mr Foord’s questions, leading the MP to brand the whole situation ‘farcical’ and describe the current set-up as a ‘self-licking lollipop’.

Speaking after the debate, Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord said:

“The aim of my debate in Parliament was to get some insight into how NHS Property Services is overseen by the Health Secretary – who is the sole shareholder of the company.

“However, what we got was a farce. The Government is still trying to duck responsibility for a company it owns. They cannot keep hiding behind officials and claiming that they cannot get involved.

“The mark of leadership is standing up and taking charge, helping bring about change when it’s clearly needed. Sadly, we've seen none of that from Ministers.

“The current system is effectively a self-licking lollipop, where the Government is passing taxpayers’ money around in a circle for NHS facilities – which in Seaton’s case includes a wing of a hospital that was entirely funded by the local community.

“The risk to Seaton Hospital is real and serious. I am exasperated at the lack of interest from this Conservative Government to intervene in this issue, and their unwillingness to act.

“I will continue to fight to save this cherished local hospital and to bring about real change for other community hospitals too, so we can protect our rural and coastal facilities – now and in the future.”