New figures published today (June 16) by UNISON, reveal the extent to which the condition of the NHS estate is impacting on patient care and staff wellbeing. Leaking sewage, rats and insect infestations are reported to be widespread in hospitals, clinics and ambulance stations, while staff and patients are often left without access to clean toilets.
Around one in seven NHS staff (14%) say they’ve been aware of vermin inside their workplaces within the past 12 months. A similar proportion (13%) report other infestations such as silverfish, ants, bedbugs and cockroaches.
UNISON says its survey, of more than 19,000 workers employed in all areas of the health service, gives a concerning snapshot of a dangerous and dilapidated NHS estate. As many as 15% think their place of work is unsafe because of the physical state of the buildings.
The details
At least two in five NHS employees (40%) say they’ve seen buckets on floors to catch leaking water, while around one in six (16%) have experienced sewage leaks.
Nearly one in five (19%) say public toilets in their hospitals have been out of order for extended periods. For employees themselves, the situation is worse, with unusable staff toilets reported by a quarter (25%).
One third of those polled (33%) reported broken or out-of-order equipment, while more than a quarter (28%) told of defective lighting both inside and outside NHS buildings. More than two in five (22%) were aware of cracked walls or floors.
Nearly three in ten (29%) say conditions in their place of work had worsened over the past year, almost two thirds (64%) said they remained the same and only 7% had noticed an improvement.
Three in 10 (29%) staff said their employers had closed wards and buildings to address maintenance and safety issues related to the poor condition of the estate.
The situation is also affecting staff health and wellbeing. Almost half (49%) said they had no access to affordable, healthy food while on their shifts, and around one in seven (15%) reported they were unable to get drinking water in the workplace.
UNISON’s Head of Health Helga Pile says: "No patient should be cared for in filthy, insanitary and unsafe conditions. Staff shouldn’t have to work in such shocking surroundings either.
"This survey demonstrates how a lack of funding has left the NHS estate in a dreadful mess. Hospitals should make people better, not expose them to harm from rotting rats, raw sewage and dilapidated buildings.
"Recent cuts to staffing and maintenance budgets are adding to the long-term effects of underfunding. To use scarce resources patching up ceilings and doing other short-term fixes to protect patients isn't good enough.
"Those with the worst problems need immediate access to additional financial support so they can stop the waste and begin putting things right. Investment is essential to bring the NHS up to modern standards and stop it drifting into further decline."
