England’s dilapidated hospitals are ‘downright dangerous’, NHS chiefs say

Hospital buildings in England are in such poor condition that fire, flood and electricity cuts are at risk, internal NHS trust documents have revealed, with leaders saying conditions have become “downright dangerous”.

Official documents from NHS trust board meetings show how staff and patients are being put at risk from an alarming range of hazards due to weaknesses in hospital infrastructure.

The findings come as Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said parts of the health service were so dilapidated “some patients are being treated in unsafe and sometimes downright dangerous facilities”.

Taylor blamed “decades of underinvestment” in the health care capital budget – used to repair and replace buildings and equipment – ​​which meant the NHS received “woefully” less funding than comparable countries.

A Guardian analysis of hospital board papers found that Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport is in such a rapid state of disrepair that 13 different parts of it are classified as “at serious risk of imminent collapse”. These include the pathology unit, mortuary, Bobby Moore’s cancer unit, breast clinic, data center and power station.

Minutes from the hospital board meeting in October also shows that the intensive care unit is “at risk of service disruption due to leaks from the technical room above”, that 15% more parts of the hospital pose a “significant risk” than in 2021 and that it is likely to face a growing number of lawsuits because its deteriorating record will lead to “increased health and safety incidents.”

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Trust is facing major safety risks at the three hospitals it runs. The board was told this last month. One of the most serious is the “increased risk to life and property in the event of fire due to the current inadequacy of fire compartmentation” – fire-resistant material intended to prevent flames and smoke from penetrating to other parts of a building.

A document presented to the board added that “fire compartmentation has been found inadequate at each of the trust properties”. Although fire compartmentalization is required, its inadequacy means that “there is currently an increased risk to life and property in the event of fire”. A suspected fire on October 22 led to a complete evacuation, the newspaper said.

The trust cold water storage tanks are so old and in need of so much repair that they can produce legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, which can affect staff and patients.

In addition, the ventilation systems that serve “operating theaters and other critical areas” at the South Yorkshire Trust are “not fit for purpose” and may fail because they are “outdated, out of date (and) unsuitable”. There is also a “risk of electrical failure due to (the) age and condition” of the electrical infrastructure and also a “risk of critical elevator failure,” which could disrupt clinical care.

Croydon Hospital has gotten into trouble after it outsourced the preparation of chemotherapy for cancer patients to private companies, after closing its aseptic department, where such drugs are usually compounded, for renovation. Hospital bosses are concerned that the supply of chemotherapy may not be enough to meet the needs of cancer patients. And the timeline of the renovation is uncertain due to “insufficient agreed capital financing and the rising costs of outsourcing”.

The hospital also faces the “risk of malfunction or loss of critical medical equipment due to faulty electrical sockets” in eight of its operating theatres, intensive care unit, high dependency unit, special baby unit and X-ray unit due to their “environmental condition”.

Documents presented to the hospital’s board last month also show that the physical condition of the hospital is of such concern that there is “a risk of partial or total loss of infrastructure due to the inability to restore the estate in a timely manner.” to renovate or repair”. Over the past year, the cost of tackling the huge backlog of repairs has risen to £267 million as the site has fallen into disrepair.

Barts Health Trust in London is facing major challenges linked to the crumbling estate of some of the five hospitals it runs. show papers. It has “insufficient body freezing spaces to prevent decomposition of patients in storage”, while water leaks pose a “risk of loss of pathology services and staff safety”.

In addition, fire is a risk at Newham General Hospital because the cladding there “does not meet building regulations”. As a result, there is a risk of “suspension of core services and prosecution for non-compliance with the fire safety order”.

Problems at Whipps Cross Hospital, which Barts also runs, include “drainage problems… leading to potential flooding and loss of services”, a “risk of serious harm and prosecution due to the failure to manage electrical safety” and also a risk of “delays”. in healthcare and possible harm to babies due to the age and state of maintenance of our ventilator in (the) neonatal unit”.

The cost of repairing crumbling NHS facilities in England has risen to £13.8 billion, with £2.7 billion of the work required classed as a “high risk” to safety, the latest NHS report shows figures. That is more than the annual capital financing services.

The NHS will need an extra £6.4 billion every year between 2025 and 2028 to keep its estate in good condition and improve productivity by the expected 2%, Taylor added.

Patients should not be treated in dangerous hospitals, Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said. He blamed the previous government for the growing problems with the NHS legacy. He said: “Years of neglect and underinvestment left NHS buildings crumbling, staff forced to use outdated, creaky equipment and patients paying the price. It is unacceptable for patients to be treated under these conditions.

“Lord Darzi identified the problem, and now this government is delivering the medicines the NHS needs. The budget provided an additional £13.6 billion to invest in new buildings, equipment and technology, the largest capital investment in the NHS in more than fifteen years.

“It will take time to rebuild our NHS, but with our plan for change, this government is delivering the investment and reforms needed to make the service fit for the future.”