Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with NHS Property Services on the return of Tonbridge Cottage Hospital to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Tonbridge Cottage Hospital transferred from West Kent Primary Care Trust upon its abolition in 2013 to NHS Property Services. Since May 2019 National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts can request a transfer of estate in the ownership of the NHS Property Companies, which includes NHS Property Services.
Applicant trusts are required to submit a business cases to the Department explaining how a transfer of ownership will benefit the local health system and confirming that the transfer would be on the terms set out in guidance. The Department will then decide whether the transfer should take place.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust submitted a business case for the transfer of Tonbridge Cottage Hospital in March 2020. We are currently assessing this and are in discussions with the trust and NHS Property Services as part of the process.