Fury over crumbling NHS hospitals as floods and fires shut wards to sufferers

An alarming rise in hospital flooding, fires and overheating are a “wake-up call” to Tories who want to repair crumbling NHS buildings, ministers have been instructed.

NHS information reveals there have been a median of 4 fires a day throughout NHS trusts, up 18% on the earlier yr. Meanwhile there have been 279 critical flooding incidents – almost 60% increased than 2021/22 – and 6,822 instances of overheating.

These have led to wards being closed amid fears it might worsen if the Government fails to take care of “dilapidated” buildings. Lib Dem well being spokeswoman Daisy Cooper stated: “This sharp rise in flooding, fires and overheating should act as a wake-up name to ministers to repair crumbling hospital buildings earlier than it’s too late.

“The Government has did not improve run-down and ageing hospitals, leaving them notably weak to excessive weather events. Every day, people are being treated in old and dilapidated buildings because the Conservatives have failed to deliver on the new hospitals they promised.”

NHS Digital estimates that the upkeep backlog – work that ought to have already got been accomplished to make buildings secure – stands at £11.6billion. This doesn’t embody deliberate upkeep work.

The Lib Dems identified that St Helier Hospital in South London is amongst these affected by fixed closures and flooding. Boris Johnson had promised it will get replaced as a part of his pledge to ship 40 new hospitals within the 2019 election manifesto.

Ministers are urged to commit extra funds to upgrading NHS buildings and enhance their resilience to excessive climate.