CONCERNS have been raised about the fate of valuable artworks and unique features inside the 240-year-old Bootham Park Hospital, which is being sold by the NHS after closing its doors for good in October.

Retired consultant psychiatrist Dr Bob Adams, who worked at the hospital from 1990 to 2014, said paintings such as portraits of Sir Jeffrey Dunstan and William Walker hang inside the building, as well as benefactors’ boards and other fixtures.

Dr Adams said: “The beautiful features hopefully should be part of the listing but if the building is sold as flats the public will never get a look in.

“Our heritage is important. York is an important historic place and that’s because of the vision of the people in the past who wanted to preserve the city.”

Chief executive of York Civic Trust David Fraser also raised concerns about what would happen to the building and its contents once it is sold. He said: “It’s a wider concern than just the artworks, it’s the future of the hospital as a whole. It’s at a vulnerable point in its history.

“There’s no doubt that the building itself is an absolutely fundamental part of the social and physical fabric of York. The history of mental health care in the world started here. Wouldn’t it be a shame if that was lost.

“NHS Property Services isn’t based in York and doesn’t necessarily have the best interests of York at heart. Their objective is to maximise the asset.”

David Elstob, principal transaction manager at NHS Property Services, said an audit is being carried out on the building and that it is still protected by 24-hour security.

He said: “We know this historic building and its contents are important to local people and we have commissioned an independent specialist to produce a complete record of the building’s historic features. We will work with Historic England and the City of York Council to ensure any that any features that form part of the listed building remain with the property where possible.”

Neil Redfern, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, added that the organisation will work with the NHS and that he is aware of residents’ concerns about the future of the building.