NHS must find an extra pounds 20m for Guy's building

THE COST of Philip Harris House, the controversial new hi-tech building at Guy's hospital in London, has risen by another pounds 14m, the Department of Health has been warned. This comes just as charities are demanding millions of pounds of their money back because the building will not be used as originally intended.

The warning that the NHS is going to have find at least pounds 20m more for what critics have already dubbed a white elephant comes as the National Audit Office is considering whether a full investigation should be launched into the decision to relocate Guy's

services at St Thomas's. If other charities and the Guy's special trustees were also to withdraw their cash, up to pounds 45m more would have to be found by the NHS.

Yesterday, the Trust revealed that its final cost would be pounds 152m, against the pounds 138m estimate last year.

Sir Philip Harris, the former carpet magnate and Guy's chairman, after whom the building was named and who had promised pounds 6m towards its cost, has already asked to have back the pounds 2.25m his charitable trust has so far paid over towards a pounds 6m contribution to the new building. Medical research charities are also warning they will want a refund if alternative and matching facilities are not offered at St Thomas's.

Sir Roy Griffiths, the former managing director of Sainsbury's, whose Government-commissioned inquiries revolutionised both NHS management and community care, died yesterday, aged 67.

Obituary, page 14