New figures showing how much repairs to its buildings and facilities cost the NHS reveal:  

• Maintenance backlog now £11.6bn, up 13.6% since 2021/22
• More than half (54%) of repairs backlog relates to 'high or significant risk'
• The 'high risk' backlog has increased by more than £550m to £2.36bn

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive, NHS Providers, said: 

"The bill for a long 'to do' list of essential repairs across the NHS continues to grow at an alarming rate. The cost of trying to patch up creaking buildings and out-of-date facilities is rocketing.

"Far too many NHS buildings and equipment are in a very bad way and the latest figures show the situation is just getting worse.

"The safety of patients and staff is at stake. To provide first-class care the NHS needs safe, efficient and reliable buildings, facilities and equipment.

"We learned too in October that more unsafe reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) had been found in more NHS sites. RAAC is a symptom of a far bigger and long-running problem.

"Many trusts – mental health, community, hospital and ambulance services – need major investment to refurbish ageing buildings and tackle risks to the safety of patients and staff.

"We need the government to shift gear and inject a significant shot in the arm of capital investment in the NHS."