NHS Digital figures show £14.1 million is needed to restore buildings to certain standards as of March reports Andrew Dowdeswell, Data Reporter

Ambulances at an Emergency Department entrance — Nationally, the maintenance backlog rose by more 13% last year, including £2.4 billion earmarked to eradicate the high-risk backlog – (Credit – Radar)

More than £10million is needed to restore crumbling buildings to full working order at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, new figures show.

Across England, a growing number of buildings are in a poor state, with the repair bill climbing to £11.6billion last year.

NHS Providers, the body which represents NHS hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services, said the rate at which the bill is rising is “alarming”, and urged the government to provide much-needed investment in broken buildings.

The latest NHS Digital figures show £14.1m is needed to restore buildings at Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust to certain standards as of March.

This work should have already taken place and covers everything from leaky gutters and faulty lifts to critical electrical and structural issues in hospital buildings. It does not include planned maintenance due to be undertaken.

Of this, just £330,000 is required to fix high-risk issues, which NHS reports say must be addressed with urgent priority to prevent catastrophic failure, major disruption to clinical services, or safety deficiencies liable to cause serious injury.

The most expensive site was Chase Farm Hospital, with £7m needed to complete all the necessary repairs.

Nationally, the maintenance backlog rose by more 13% last year, including £2.4bn earmarked to eradicate the high-risk backlog.

Chief executive of NHS Providers Sir Julian Hartley said: “The cost of trying to patch up creaking buildings and out-of-date facilities is rocketing.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 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.”

In October, the Department for Health and Social Care confirmed 42 sites have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) and must be repaired.

This included Chase Farm Hospital at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust.

Sir Julian said the presence of the collapse-risk concrete “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,” he added.

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

A DHSC spokesperson said: “We have invested significant sums to upgrade and modernise NHS buildings so staff have the facilities needed to provide world-class care for patients, including £4.2bn this financial year.

“Trusts are responsible for prioritising this funding to maintain and refurbish their premises, including the renewal and replacement of equipment.

“This is on top of the £3.7bn made available for the first four years of the New Hospital Programme and a further £1.7bn for over 70 hospital upgrades across England alongside a range of nationally-funded infrastructure improvements in mental health, urgent and emergency care and diagnostic capacity.”

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