A total of 2,063 hospital buildings across England were built before the NHS was established in 1948, new research by the Liberal Democrats has found based on data from NHS Digital.
Further, the research has found that in some NHS Trust estates two-thirds of all buildings are over 75 years old.
Overall, 34 out of 211 NHS Trusts had at least one in four buildings in its estate that were constructed before 1948.
Only 30 trusts had no buildings that pre-dated 1948, according to the research by the Liberal Democrats.
The NHS Trusts with the most outdated buildings according to the study
The research found that Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London has the highest proportion of outdated buildings in the county, with two in three (67%) hospital buildings in its estate predating the establishment of the NHS.
Followed by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust with 65.5% of hospital buildings in its estate predating the establishment of the NHS.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the third NHS Trust with the most outdated buildings at 51.1%, the research has found.
A total of 2,063 hospital buildings across England were built before the NHS was established in 1948
The study also revealed that patient care has been drastically impacted in many of the hospitals with large numbers of buildings over 75 years old due to crumbling infrastructure.
At St Helier Hospital in Sutton, lifts have reportedly broken down three times a day and an Intensive Care Unit was deemed unsafe for patients and used as a storeroom.
Lynfield Mount Hospital in Bradford has experienced rain causing sewage to swell up through its bathroom sinks and spilling out onto the wards.
The reactions of the NHS Trusts with the most outdated buildings according to the study
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust told Building Better Healthcare that at St Helier Hospital, more than 90% of the buildings are older than the NHS itself.
Further, 98% of the St Helier estate is “either in very poor or bad condition and requires capital investment or replacement.”
“Our estate challenges range from damp mould; to difficulties maintaining a steady temperature across the seasons; to floods and leaking roofs. Our staff work in old, cramped and crumbling offices, with windows that don’t close properly and lifts that are too small and break down regularly,” the spokesperson explained.
On top of these challenges, Epsom and St Helier’s healthcare facilities must “continually conform to higher standards not least since the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the spokesperson.
“A lack of space in the design of our buildings means beds are sometimes too close together and we can’t always meet best practice, such as having the anesthesia recovery room within the theatre suite in our maternity wards,” the spokesperson continued.
Research found that in some NHS Trust estates two-thirds of all buildings are over 75 years old
“The fact that only a quarter of inpatients are cared for in single rooms means infection control is also more of a challenge,” the spokesperson further explained.
“The Trust continues to provide safe and effective care to patients despite the challenges, but it gets harder every year. Trying to patch up our failing infrastructure and out-of-date facilities is unsustainable. Without proper funding for the safe, efficient and reliable buildings and equipment that patients and staff need, quality of care is at risk,” according to the spokesperson.
However, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The Trust’s new state-of-the-art, Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Sutton will be fully funded and completed by 2030.
This commitment was reiterated by Dame Andrea Leadsom, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health in Parliament on 1st March 2024.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
A spokesperson for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “BTHFT owns and operates out of two main sites, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital."
“St Luke’s Hospital was first opened as a workhouse infirmary in 1850, further wards were built in 1890 and the Horton Wing was built in the early 1990s, therefore 43% of the estate was built before 1948 on this site. This 43% is Grade II listed," the spokesperson explained.
St Luke’s Hospital was first opened as a workhouse infirmary in 1850
“Bradford Royal Infirmary was built in the late 1920s and officially opened in 1936. This original development now amounts for 59% of the current estate," the spokesperson continued.
“We are continuing to invest in each site year on year, for example, we completely refurbished two of the original Nightingale wards at BRI in 2022 - Wards 2 and 5 - creating a modern environment for our patients and staff. A new £19 million surgical day case unit is currently under development at the St Luke’s Hospital site and is expected to open this year,” the spokesperson concluded.
Overall, due to the Spring Budget, NHS spending will be £1.7bn less in real terms next year (2024-25) compared to last year.
Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust told Building Better Healthcare that it is a mental health and education Trust not an acute hospital with inpatients or beds.
“The healthcare we provide is talking and relational therapy, much of it in the community,” a spokesperson for Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust said.