We can’t keep wasting money 'propping up' unfit buildings.

New figures showing the bill to repair NHS buildings and facilities reveal:

• Near-£16billion maintenance backlog now (up 15%), outstripping cost of running NHS estate
• Total cost of running the NHS estate up 3% to £14billion
• Cost of ‘high risk’ repairs waiting to be done more than £3.5billion (up 27%)
• Hard-working NHS staff continue to make progress for patients despite estates limitations

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive, NHS Providers, said: 

"Critical parts of the NHS are falling to bits, literally, after years of underinvestment nationally. The safety of patients and staff is at risk.

"We can’t keep wasting money propping up ageing buildings not fit for purpose. We welcome the government’s commitment to increasing capital investment across the NHS but we need to be able spend more of the NHS budget on modern facilities and up-to-date technology.

"Eye-watering sums are needed just to patch up buildings and equipment which are in a very bad way right across hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services. We need to make the NHS as modern and winter-proof as possible but the waiting list of essential repairs keeps getting longer and costs are soaring. 

"Our new report with PA Consulting shows how we could sort this problem - led by changes to government capital spending rules. We can make the most of other sources of investment so that we use government funding for repairs while unlocking billions of pounds more to transform care for patients and to bring big benefits for wider economic growth and productivity."