According to official figures by the Department of Health (DoH) hospitals in England spent £9 million on art and design projects in the past two years.
The DoH claims that most of the money came from charitable donations specifically given for art purchases.
A spokesman for the DoH said "The money that involved NHS grants went on improving the hospital environment.
"NHS money has never gone to purchase a work of art”.
He added donations to buy art could not be spent on anything else. But Tim Loughton, the Tory health spokesman, said: "Many people readily give to charities but I am sure they will be alarmed that their money is going on works of art rather than on cancer care and other equipment”.
A recent study showed a significant fall in blood pressure among patients who had been exposed to art and music while waiting for operations.