New analysis of data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre – a Department of Health agency – shows significant disparities in how much NHS trusts spend to maintain grounds and gardens. There appear to be opportunities for many Trusts to save significant amounts of money by emulating those that secure the best value for money.
The key findings of this research are:
- In 2013-14, NHS sites in England which overpaid for their grounds and gardens maintenance could have saved at least £6.8 million by paying the median rate per m2 of land.
- The amount that was overpaid was equivalent to the salaries of 224 nurses in 2013- 14.
- NHS sites across England, including hospitals, spent more than £26 million on gardens and grounds maintenance in 2013-14.
- 43 trusts in England could save £50,000 or more if they paid the average rate for grounds and gardens maintenance. 4 trusts could save more than £200,000
- University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust could make the largest saving of £501,850 if it paid for ground and garden maintenance at the average rate.
- Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust paid the most per m2 of grounds or gardens maintained - £4.30 – compared to a median cost of £0.52 per m2.