NHS to take over state-of-the-art hospital from private health group in windfall'

"We don't want to gloat about this, because we've had a good partnership with Nuffield Health. But these two buildings have fallen into our lap. It's like a windfall, said a Barts trust source. We leased them two derelict buildings and are getting back two modern, fully equipped hospitals. The buildings have 55 beds, three operating theatres, consulting rooms and CT and MRI scanners."

"The not-for-profit private health operator took a 30-year-lease on two dilapidated empty Barts trust buildings in 2022 and spent 65m refurbishing them for a hospital for heart disease and joint problems. But it has decided to shut the hospital next week less than four years into an arrangement that was intended to grow its business and generate millions of pounds in rental income for Barts Health."

Barts Health will take control next month and convert Nuffield Health's facility into a dedicated NHS breast cancer diagnosis and treatment centre. Nuffield Health took a 30-year lease in 2022 on two dilapidated Barts buildings and spent 65m refurbishing them for heart and joint care. The private operator failed to attract enough paying patients and decided to close the hospital next week, less than four years into the lease. The lease is being sold back to the NHS trust, which acquires 55 beds, three operating theatres, consulting rooms, and CT and MRI scanners. The closure threatens about 180 nurses and clinical staff with redundancy. The Barts Charity is giving the trust 16.6m, its biggest donation ever, to cover the costs.

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