UK's Yvette Cooper announces GBP1.5 billion to fix-up NHS buildings
UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced £1.5 billion will be spent to fix urgent problems in crumbling National Health Service buildings and build resilience to extreme heat.
This money comes from the £6.75 billion estate safety fund announced last year, which is set to be distributed over nine years from 2026/27 to 2034/35.
The £1.5 billion will cover 950 hospitals and tackle issues like fire safety systems and outdated ventilation, with more than £32 million to be spent on cooling and ventilation to prepare for summer heatwaves.
It comes after the UK experienced its hottest summer on record, with five heatwaves and 40 days of temperatures above 30C.
Addressing MPs on Wednesday, the Health Secretary said: "In the spending review, we allocated for the first time a multi-year £6.75 billion estate safety fund.
"I can announce the first wave of investment from this fund today, covering 950 hospital projects across England, which will receive a share of a £1.5 billion investment to fix urgent problems of ageing buildings and facilities.
"Schemes tackling issues including failing fire safety systems, outdated ventilation, ageing electrical equipment that could put patients and staff at risk.
"More than £32 million will be spent specifically on projects that include improving cooling and ventilation, helping hospitals cope with extreme heat as well as winter pressures.
"As part of this funding, I can announce 10 major schemes worth £200 million: Wycombe Hospital in High Wycombe, the Royal Free Hospital in north London, the Linden Centre in Essex, the John Howard Centre in London, Lister Hospital in Hertfordshire, Southend Hospital in Essex, the Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, St George's Hospital in Stafford, the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.
"I have also asked the NHS to look particularly at extreme weather resilience as part of future waves of capital plans."
Cooper said a heat taskforce has also been set up, which will examine the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable groups and ensure planning for summer is "on the same footing" as planning for winter pressures.
She told MPs: "For many years, the NHS has run a detailed planning process to ensure it's prepared for the pressures of winter months. This summer shows us seasonal resilience is just important at other times of year.
"So we have established a new heat taskforce, including the chief medical officer, NHS England leaders and several NHS chief executives from services that have been most affected.
"I requested the taskforce examines the impact, particularly on vulnerable groups, including those who are frail, expectant mothers, those with mental health conditions, and I will chair its first meeting in the coming weeks.
"It will help to ensure our summer planning is on the same footing as winter planning, looking at staffing, expert teams, patient flow, corridor care, links to social care, and also crucially prevention and public health as well."
Shadow health secretary Damian Hinds suggested the government could have been better prepared for "predictable" issues seen over the summer after "high temperatures were forecast".
Cooper replied: "Despite the huge record demand on the health service in July, we actually saw improvements in performance around waiting lists, around waiting times, and also on emergency care as well.
"That is tribute to the work across the National Health Service and also all of the planning work that had been done nationally, including to improve performance as well."
She said the approach of the NHS should be "to have a seasonal resilience", adding that "planning is already well under way" for the coming winter.
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Helen Morgan said temperatures experienced by staff and patients over the summer were "inhumane".
She warned the NHS is in "perma-crisis", adding: "The hallmarks of peak winter pressure in the past, overcrowded A&Es, queuing ambulances, and soaring 999 calls are now a feature all year round."
By Abbie Llewelyn and Rhiannon James, Press Association Political Staff
Press Association: News
source: PA
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