Hospital facing £40m cuts buys art for £421,000
Racing pulse: the hospital says the sculptures are calming for patients
12 April 2012
A hospital has spent £421,000 on art despite being ordered to make £40 million budget cuts to meet government targets.
The works, which decorate a new £148 million wing at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, include two 9ft-tall figures, paintings, mosaics and a suspended metal sculpture.
Emma Boon, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This looks like madness to locals and staff."
The wing was created under a Private Finance Initiative between Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust and building firm Bouygues UK, who said today the aim was to enhance the environment, reduce stress and "aid the healing process".
