Better use of surplus NHS land could generate up to £6bn property and care efficiencies over 25 years if directed towards supported housing, a think-tank has reported today.

A report published by the Smith Institute entitled ‘NHS surplus land for supported housing: why now and what are the possible cost savings?' suggests the use of spare health service land assets would be an early intervention programme that would help cut annual £200m costs of delayed discharges and boost patient independence.