The lack of clarity about the implications of the government's Health and Social Care Bill reforms has left most people in the healthcare sector uncertain about the future. Most of the press attention is, understandably, focused on patients and services but I'm going to look at the often overlooked issue of the health estate. Clearly, the government is determined to carry out significant cost-saving measures. Given the state of the economy and the enormous cost of running the NHS, this is an easily understood, if not always popular, concept for most people, but how well is it going? Are the government's intentions being realised in practice at the frontline? It's simply not clear. Indeed, there are many indicators pointing to a disconnect between government intentions and the reality on the ground, so where is the leadership? It's all rather worrying and one asks if all the upheaval is really necessary.
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