Responding to the announcement of the Government’s 10 Year Capital Plan for the NHS, BMA representative body chair Dr Amit Kochhar said:

“Doctors across the country will tell you how vast swathes of the NHS estate are outdated, in need of repair or simply not suitable to provide 21st Century care in. At best, this is frustrating and uncomfortable for both staff and patients, at its worst it is downright dangerous. In the past few weeks, we have seen how this plays out during heatwaves, with old, cramped and, poorly ventilated or air-conditioned buildings making conditions unbearable.

“While we wait to see full details of this plan, it does seem to respond to persistent calls from the BMA and many others for greater, long-term investment into NHS buildings and infrastructure. However, big questions remain over how far this funding will stretch, and how much difference it will make to patients and the staff who treat them. Lord Darzi's review of the NHS concluded that it had been starved of capital funding, but this new plan appears set to keep the health service acutely hungry for investment.

“For example, this announcement pledges £6.75bn spread over the next nine years for repairs and maintenance. To put that in context, the latest maintenance backlog is £15.9bn in England, meaning it won’t even tackle half of it now, let alone as it continues to grow. In the short-term, this investment needs to be targeted at the most high-risk repairs that are actively endangering patients and staff right now.

“In general practice 20% of buildings predate the foundation of the NHS itself, with capital investment needed to bring surgeries up-to-date, and to meet the changing needs of both patients and diverse staff teams. This announcement hints at this, but the emphasis on new neighbourhood health centres must not be at the expense of improving people’s local practices that they are used to and which provide invaluable continuity of care. And once again, it looks unlikely that the announced overall investment will be sufficient.

“As ever the devil will be in the detail of the full plan, and it’s vital that doctors and their colleagues are given a proper say on how this funding is spent, ensuring it gets to where it’s most needed so that they are able to care for patients to the best of their ability, unhindered by the buildings they work in.”

 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.