Repair bill for crumbling NHS buildings in England soars to almost £14bn

The cost of repairing crumbling NHS buildings in England has soared to almost £14bn, prompting warnings that patients and staff are at risk from falling roofs and faulty equipment.

The repair bill faced by the health service to make its estate fit for purpose has more than trebled from £4.5bn in 2012-13 to £13.8bn last year, according to NHS England data.

The latest bill means that, for the first time since records began, it would cost the NHS more to eradicate its maintenance backlog than the £13.6bn it spends on running its entire estate.

“Vital bits of the NHS are literally falling apart after years of underinvestment nationally. The safety of patients and staff is at risk,” said Saffron Cordery, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers.

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Source: The Guardian, 17 October 2024