Trusts waiting twice the legal limit for key regulatory approval

NHS trusts are being forced to wait an average of six months for a regulatory decision on capital projects, despite the relevant legislation stating they should be completed in 8-12 weeks, HSJ  can reveal.

This is resulting in lengthy delays to urgent building repairs and the purchase of new medical equipment, as well as the potential loss of funding if work is not started by the end of the financial year for which capital budgets apply.

The NHS faces a maintenance backlog estimated at £15bn, meaning a huge number of remedial projects are now being put forward by trusts.

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Source: HSJ, 9 March 2026