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DAG DETTER

The real estate portfolio is a virtual goldmine if handled professionally

The real estate portfolio is a virtual goldmine if handled professionally

The Times

The redevelopment of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London is a rare example of what the NHS could be doing on a national scale.

Not only will it create a state-of-the-art hospital for central London, but it will release former hospital buildings for redevelopment into flats and offices, which will pay for some of the hospital’s investments.

Yet this good example is the exception rather than the rule. The NHS is one of the largest property owners in the UK but its many buildings are not managed to maximise the quality of care. Specialisation and new healthcare technology require functional yet flexible facilities. The NHS could release land for housing and offices, and earn a return on some of its real estate. This