Almost £14BN needed to plug rocketing NHS repairs build-up

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

• Near-£14billion maintenance backlog now (up 19%), outstripping cost of running NHS estate
• Total cost of running the NHS estate up 11% to £13.6billion
• Cost of ‘high risk' repairs waiting to be done almost £3billion (up 16% to £2.74billion)

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers, said:

“Vital bits of the NHS are literally falling apart after years of underinvestment nationally. The safety of patients and staff is at risk.

“The list of essential repairs across the NHS waiting to be done keeps getting longer and the costs are rocketing.

“This can't go on. Eye-watering sums are needed just to patch up buildings and equipment which are in a very bad way right across hospitals, mental health, community health and ambulance services. 

"With the government's Budget less than a fortnight away it's vital ministers provide an urgent capital funding boost and rethink rules on capital investment in the NHS so that trusts can tackle the near-£14billion maintenance backlog, give patients safe surroundings and boost productivity."