July 2019
A number of media outlets have reported on findings which suggest that NHS hospitals require £6 billion to conduct essential building repairs in order to prevent patients being placed at ‘significant risk’. Simon Stevens emphasised that immediate action needed to be taken in order to prevent further deterioration. Nearly half of hospital trusts reported patient care had been delayed or disrupted last year as a result of building or equipment issues, according to documents obtained under freedom of information (FOI) requests.