Labour accuses Government of 'fire sale' of NHS land
2 min read
Labour has criticised the Government after it emerged the amount of NHS land up for sale more than doubled last year.
Hospital buildings and some ambulance stations are among some of the assets listed as part of the Government’s bid to raise £5bn through the sale of public land by 2020 – as recommended in the Naylor review.
Data body NHS Digital revealed there were 543 areas of land covering 1,332 hectares for sale in 2016/17, compared to 418 plots covering 546 in the previous year.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the move amounted to a “fire sale”, as Labour revealed 117 sites deemed surplus were still in use by the health service.
“This Government's refusal to fund the health service has seen standards of care for patients drop and NHS building and upgrade works pushed back,” he said.
“The NHS needs an urgent injection of funding to make up for years of Tory underfunding, but the answer is not a blanket sell-off of sites which are currently being used for patient care.”
The Department of Health, however, insisted only unwanted land would be sold, with funds raised ring-fenced for use by the health service.
“There will be no ‘fire sale’ of NHS assets, but we continue with our ongoing efforts to help hospitals dispose of land they do not need,” a spokesman said.
“This will provide vital funds for the NHS to spend on patient care and free-up space for much needed homes.”
JEREMY CORBYN CAMPAIGNING
The analysis comes as Jeremy Corbyn travels to Cornwall to campaign on the Government's management of the NHS.
The Labour leader is expected to use his visit to flag new NHS England data on factors such as waiting times, delayed transfers of care and “bed blocking”.
The trip is part of Mr Corbyn’s summer campaign, as the party attempts to win support in marginal seats across the UK.
Labour has pledged to knock on doors in 75 of the most marginal Tory-held seats, as well as 20 target seats in Scotland.
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