Health bill delay slows efficiency drive

摘要

Attempts to generate savings from the healthcare estate have been frustrated by the legislative gridlock caused by the slow passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament. Some 1.9 million sq m of space are still "wasted" at a potential cost of £2 billion to the taxpayer, according to the third annual Reforming the NHS Estate report by consultant EC Harris. The total wasted space -buildings classified as underused or empty by health bodies - was reduced by just 210,000 sq m in 2010/11, compared with a 0.9 million sq m reduction in the previous year.