Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of establishing the NHS Property Board.

Sir Robert Naylor’s review of the National Health Service estate recommended the establishment of a ‘powerful new NHS Property Board’. The Government is giving careful consideration to the Review’s recommendations, including the form and function of an NHS Property Board and the best way to support estates transformation by providing leadership, expertise and delivery support to the NHS and strengthening existing estates capabilities and skills. No estimate has been made for the cost of establishing an NHS Property Board.

We have been prioritising action to build capability by enhancing strategic estates support to help the NHS achieve the clinical transformation set out in the Five Year Forward View. A single, integrated team of Strategic Estates Advisors from NHS Property Services and Community Health Partnerships is providing immediate support to Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships with the development and implementation of their local estates strategies.