DORSET Healthcare University Trust could make millions of pounds from selling land it owns, figures reveal.

NHS Digital data shows Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has identified eight sites it could sell for an estimated £11.6 million.

Of those, three are linked to sites used for clinical or medical purposes – a plot at King’s Park Hospital, one at Boscombe Community Hospital and a further site at St Leonard’s Community Hospital.

The first two sites have been identified as having potential to be declared surplus to requirements, subject to a disposal strategy being developed, while the trust is actively seeking to dispose of the site at St Leonard’s Community Hospital.

All sites earmarked for disposal sit on a total area of around 8.01 hectares and could accommodate 82 new homes.

The plot at Boscombe Community Hospital is deemed suitable for housing, while no use has been specified for the land at the other two sites.

The collection of data on surplus NHS land first began in 2008 in order to provide information on sites that can be disposed of, to contribute to the Public Land for Housing programme.

The programme is part of a Government plan to release land to boost its housing delivery.

We Own It, a group campaigning against privatisation, warned that selling off NHS assets shrinks capacity in the health service, which is needed now more than ever.

However, the Department for Health and Social Care said trusts are only encouraged to sell land when it is no longer required to deliver services.

A DHSC spokesman said: "To prevent trusts from being burdened with the additional cost of maintaining redundant facilities, the NHS is empowered to sell land that is no longer required, or unsuitable for modern clinical care, and reinvest money in upgrading facilities.

"We are investing billions to deliver 40 new hospitals around the country and ensure the NHS estate is fit for the future, including £450 million to upgrade A&Es and help trusts continue to deliver safe and accessible services through winter."

Chris Lawrence, Dorset HealthCare’s Service Director of Estates and Facilities, said: "We are required by NHS Digital to keep a record of sites that could potentially be sold in the future.

"However, we would only sell land if we felt the sites were no longer required or suitable for Trust purposes. Funds from any sales would be re-invested into our services to provide upgraded facilities for our patients and service users.

"While we are seeking to dispose of the St Leonard’s Hospital site, which is in line with the Dorset-wide Clinical Services Review (CSR), no decisions have been taken about the King’s Park or Boscombe sites.

"If we consider selling any land for housing or community purposes, we would engage with our council partners to ensure it would be put to good use for the local area."