Theresa Villiers said: "It is deeply frustrating that these two sites are going to waste when land is needed for local services, such as GP surgeries, and for new family homes. I have raised this issue with our local hospital and the NHS on repeated occasions. It is not acceptable that these properties have been left unused for so long. Both sites are now real eyesores and need to be dealt with.”
“I have now written to John Morton, Chief Executive of Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group and to Dr. Tim Peachey, Interim Chief Executive of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, to urge them to take action on these properties and ensure they are put to good use, in keeping with the character of the surrounding area.”
“A number of constituents have complained to me about the deteriorating condition of the buildings at these sites. For example, the Barnet Society raised concerns about the nurse accommodation in Arkley at a meeting I attended before Easter at Pennefather Hall, Christ Church, St Albans Road.”
“Last July NHS North Central London, assured me that they were exploring options for the future of the Marie Foster Home Site and that one of these could be in place as early as autumn 2012. Regarding the derelict nurse accommodation, the former Chief Executive, Mark Easton, of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust told me last year that the site would form part of the Trust’s Estates Strategy, which was also due for approval in 2012. Despite these assurances, nothing has happened”
Ms Villiers added: “I recently had the chance to discuss this problem with Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. However, local action is needed to deal with this problem and I will continue to keep up the pressure for these properties to be used in a constructive way, either to provide new health facilities or family homes.”
This week, Theresa received a letter from the Hospital Trust advising her that they have begun the process of establishing whether the land for the nurse accommodation is surplus to the requirements of the NHS. This is the first stage in a process to decide whether the land should be retained for use by the hospital, released for use by other public services or sold for redevelopment.