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New analysis by Property Inspect has revealed that the cost of repairing NHS buildings is on course to exceed £16 billion, as the wider maintenance backlog across the UK’s public estate approaches £50 billion.
The latest data shows that hospitals and other NHS facilities account for £13.8 billion of the government’s estimated £48.6 billion maintenance backlog, meaning almost 30 per cent of all outstanding public-sector repair costs are linked to NHS properties.
The findings come amid continued concerns about the condition of NHS buildings across the country, with reports in recent years highlighting issues ranging from mouldy maternity wards and gas exposure, to most recently, crumbling hospitals, all of which create severe safety risks affecting both patients and staff.
Property Inspect’s analysis also shows that the NHS maintenance backlog has increased dramatically over the past decade, rising from £5.6 billion in 2014-15 to £13.8 billion in 2023-24 (latest available data).
Based on historic growth trends, Property Inspect estimates that, by the end of this financial year (2026-27) the NHS backlog could reach £16.2 billion after an annual increase of 6 per cent.
The NHS is now one of the largest contributors to the government’s maintenance liability, second only to Ministry of Defence properties.
Analysis of the latest available figures shows:
- Ministry of Defence properties account for £15.3 billion of the maintenance backlog (31.5 per cent)
- Hospitals and NHS sites account for £13.8 billion (28.4 per cent)
- Schools account for £13.8 billion (28.4 per cent)
- Prisons and probation facilities account for £1.8 billion (3.7 per cent)
- Courts and tribunals account for £1.3 billion (2.7 per cent)
- Job centres and assessment centres account for £1.1 billion (2.3 per cent)
In total, the estimated cost of bringing public buildings up to the required standard now stands at £48.6 billion.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Property Inspect, commented: “The NHS is now carrying a repair bill that would have seemed unimaginable a decade ago. With the backlog approaching £15 billion, the scale of the challenge facing healthcare estates teams is enormous.
“What these numbers demonstrate is the cost of deferred maintenance. No organisation can avoid maintenance indefinitely without consequences. By the time a roof is leaking, damp has spread through a building, ventilation systems are failing, or structural defects require urgent attention, the cheapest opportunity to resolve the issue has usually already passed.
“Regular inspections, detailed condition reporting and proactive maintenance programmes are essential because they allow problems to be identified and addressed before they escalate into major remediation projects. Catching issues early not only helps protect building users but can save significant amounts of public money over the long term.”
