Responding to the new Government's update on the New Hospital Programme,
Dr Latifa Patel, chair of the representative body at the BMA, said: “The BMA, like many other organisations, has long had concerns about the New Hospital Programme (NHP), particularly how it will be funded. On that basis, this approach from the Government is a welcome improvement.
 
“However, the £15bn announced today isn’t enough to address all of the problems with the NHS estates or to modernise buildings to the extent that’s needed. Even with the additional £1bn to help with the maintenance backlog announced earlier this year, the running total stands at £13.8bn, with £2.7bn of that considered high risk and urgent. There’s no way these funding packages can cover both the NHP and this essential maintenance elsewhere in the NHS.
 
“That’s why, alongside the NHP, we need a dedicated plan and funding to tackle the maintenance backlog once and for all. This means staff and patients are kept safe, even in buildings that are either having to wait a long time to be rebuilt or aren’t included in the NHP at all. Many sites are so outdated that parts of them cannot be used, making them too small to cope with patient demand, which drives up unsafe corridor care and stunts productivity.
 
“A maintenance plan is fundamentally a lesson in looking after what you’ve already got, and why steady investment in the health service is so important. New hospitals are desperately needed, without question, but if we can’t also fix existing sites then problems there will only get worse – and patients, in the meantime, will suffer.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.