Historic service charge debt on GP premises unlikely to be written off, NHS Property Service chief says

Parliament TV

By Daniel Pye

Service charge debts on GP premises dating back several years are unlikely to be written off, according to the leader of NHS Property Services (NHSPS).

Speaking to the Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) Martin Steele, chief executive officer of NHSPS, said the service was operating on a full cost recovery basis to recoup the charges.

His organisation runs 10% of the NHS estate, and maintains around 3,000 buildings.

Some GP practices have been in dispute with NHSPS over the debt for more than a decade. Steele acknowledged problems with the data used to calculate the amount owed, but said the issues had now been resolved.

During the committee hearing Labour MP Jen Craft told Steele that most GP surgeries would not be able to afford half a million in historic debt.

She added her constituency of Thurrock, in Essex, had too few GPs and this was an issue regularly raised by doctors in the area.