NHS Gets £750m Boost to Fix Crumbling Buildings

The government has allocated £750 million to the NHS in England for tackling long-term maintenance problems. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the money could be used by hospitals, mental health units, and ambulance services to mend leaky pipes, improve ventilation, and solve electrical issues. 

The investment aims to prevent operations and appointments being cancelled because of crumbling infrastructure. However, healthcare leaders said the cash injection is a “drop in the ocean” and just a fraction of the estimated £14 billion maintenance backlog across the health service estate.

More than £100 million will be put aside for maternity units to replace outdated ventilation systems in neonatal intensive care units and create better environmental conditions for vulnerable babies and their families.

Scale of NHS Disrepair

Hospital services were disrupted more than 4000 times in 2023-2024 due to poor quality buildings, according to England’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting. 

Streeting highlighted the severity of the problem, noting that burst pipes had flooded emergency departments, faulty electrical systems had shut down operating theatres, and mothers had been forced to give birth in substandard facilities.

A recent UNISON survey revealed NHS hospitals were plagued by rats, cockroaches, and sewage leaks. The survey also flagged problems with leaky roofs and out-of-order toilets.

Simon Corben, director for NHS estates and facilities at NHS England, said repairs were overdue. “Fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations,” he stated.

Earlier this month, the DHSC pledged £102 million this financial year for GP surgeries to upgrade outdated premises. It followed an independent report by Lord Ara Darzi last year which concluded that outdated, inefficient buildings were unfit for purpose, created barriers to delivering high-quality patient care, and reduced productivity.

‘Small Downpayment’ Welcomed

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, welcomed the latest announcement, particularly noting support for the “often overlooked” mental health and ambulance sectors.

However, he pointed out that “an eye-watering near £14 billion is needed just to patch up buildings and equipment,” with mental health services alone facing a maintenance backlog exceeding £1 billion.

Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said NHS facilities had fallen into a “dire state of disrepair” that was hampering efforts to reduce waiting lists. 

“With the NHS maintenance backlog currently standing at £13.8 billion, this really is just a drop in the ocean,” he said.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, described the spending boost as a “small down payment” on the maintenance backlog. “At £750 million a year, it would take almost 20 years to clear the backlog, assuming it does not continue to grow,” he warned.

Healthcare leaders called for new investment models, including private sector involvement, to address the funding shortfall more rapidly.

Projects are due to be delivered during the 2025-2026 financial year, with the first upgrades expected to begin this summer, the DHSC said.

Rob Hicks is a retired National Health Service doctor. A well-known TV and radio broadcaster, he has written several books and has regularly contributed to national newspapers, magazines, and online publications. He is based in the United Kingdom.