NHS Scotland facing £899m repair bill backlog

The ‘State of the Estate’ report revealed that the proportion of NHS buildings classified as being in a good condition has improved from 58% in 2014 to 72% in 2017. There has also been a further reduction in backlog maintenance, which per square metre, has fallen by around 25% since 2011.

However half of properties owned by NHS Lothian and Ayrshire and Arran are not in a good condition, whilst just a quarter of Orkney’s estate is classed as in ‘good condition’.

Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet secretary for health and sport, Monica Lennon MSP, said: “The marginal nationwide improvement is to be welcomed, but it is clear some parts of the country are being left far behind.

“Some of Scotland’s largest health boards have had almost half of their properties classed as not in a good condition within the report, that’s simply not good enough for staff and patients.

“Hundreds of millions of pounds worth of repairs are needed to get our NHS fit for the future.”

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said NHS boards have £3.34 billion of improvements to buildings and facilities planned over the next five years and beyond.

Ms Freeman added: “This report finds that there is a high level of satisfaction with the hospital environment, with most NHS buildings are in a good condition, and that boards are making steady progress in reducing the level of backlog maintenance across their estates.

“Sustained investment in facilities, equipment and vehicles is vital to ensure that Scotland’s health service can continue to provide a high standard of care. In our forthcoming Capital Investment Strategy, which will be brought to Parliament before the end of the financial year, we’ll set out the further steps that we will take.

“As I recently set out in the medium term financial framework, NHS territorial boards will now be required to set out finance and improvement plans that break even over a three-year period, instead of one, providing more flexibility. The Scottish Government is also not seeking to recover NHS territorial boards outstanding spend over the last five years which has been above their budget.

“This clean slate will support all boards to be able to focus their attention on delivering the best patient care possible.”