Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS England, has welcomed the government’s confirmation that projects to update crumbling NHS infrastructure will begin this summer, with the £750 million funding package announced in last year’s Autumn Budget.
“I welcome this funding as a long-overdue step toward tackling the unacceptable state of parts of the NHS estate. Too many buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair, putting patient safety and staff working conditions at risk,” he says.
“It is now vital that NHS England and local leaders deliver – every pound must be spent wisely, with clear accountability and a laser focus on improving frontline care.”
How the money will be spent
Over 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will benefit from the investment to tackle long-term problems such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation and electrical issues, helping to prevent thousands of cancelled operations and appointments.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, says: “A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.
“We are on a mission to rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation.
“Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.
“Fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations, with services disrupted over 4,000 times in 2023 to 2024 due to issues with poor quality buildings.”
"A wide range of facilities and services will benefit, including over £100 million for maternity units to enable better care for mothers and their newborns. This will fund critical improvements such as replacing outdated ventilation systems in neonatal intensive care units, creating optimal environmental conditions for vulnerable babies and their families during challenging times."
Investment has already been made into new technology, including 13 DEXA scanners and £70m in radiotherapy machines.
In the latest ERIC figures, NHS backlog maintenance reached £13.8 billion, although many believe the true figure to be much higher.
