GPs pocketing thousands by leasing surgeries to the NHS

GPs in the West Midlands and Staffordshire are pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds by leasing their surgeries back to the NHS and then selling them off when they retire, it was revealed today.

Family doctors who buy their surgeries then rent them back to the Department of Health at an inflated price were today criticised by others who lease their premises.

New figures reveal the NHS paid GPs £630million in rent for surgeries in England and Wales last year.

This was an increase of 70 per cent on the £370m paid in 2004.

Today a senior doctor who represents 180 GPs in Wolverhampton said around three-quarters of the city's practices were owned by family doctors, a "fairly typical" proportion across the region.

Dr Satya Sharma defended the right of doctors to invest in their surgeries, saying GPs were taking a risk buying buildings which could lose value.

But Sandwell councillor and GP Dr Ann Jaron said doctors who reaped the rewards of rents which exceeded mortgage repayment rates were operating "a fraud".

By Mark Mudie