Faulty fire systems, ageing electrical infrastructure, and crumbling roofs. For many NHS Trusts, these aren't future risks, they're daily operational challenges. That’s why the UK Government’s £750 million Estates Safety Fund (2025–2026) marks a critical step forward in addressing the NHS’s growing backlog of estate maintenance. With decades of underinvestment, many Trusts are now facing ageing, non-compliant infrastructure that poses increasing risks to patient safety, staff wellbeing, and service delivery.
The funding aims to support urgent upgrades across NHS estates, from fire safety improvements to the replacement of essential infrastructure. There is, however, one major question every Trust must ask: How do you maintain uninterrupted patient care while improving the current facilities?
The NHS maintenance backlog: The ever-growing pressure point
NHS Digital’s latest ERIC data, covering the 2022/23 financial year, revealed that the NHS maintenance backlog had exceeded £11 billion, with a significant portion classified as high or significant risk.
Given that this data is now over 18 months old, the true scale of the problem is likely to have worsened, particularly as inflation, rising demand, and estate ageing continue to apply pressure on Trusts.
This is why the £750 million Estates Safety Fund is so critical. It provides a vital opportunity for Trusts to begin addressing long-standing safety and compliance issues before they escalate further. However, to take full advantage of the funding, plans must be made now, including how services will be maintained during the estate upgrades.
We explore the scale and urgency of the challenge in more detail in our blog on addressing the NHS maintenance backlog to improve patient care and efficiency.
The role of decant facilities supporting NHS Estate upgrades without disruption
Many of the buildings in greatest need of repair are still in daily clinical use. Decanting services elsewhere during works is often the only viable way to upgrade facilities safely and efficiently, without compromising service continuity or patient safety. That’s where high-quality decant facilities come in.
Many upgrade projects take 12–18 months from planning to execution, meaning early-stage scoping is essential to avoid missing out on allocated funding. For Trusts to make the most of the Estates Safety Fund, early planning is essential, particularly when it comes to temporary infrastructure.
Decant facilities allow Trusts to:
- Maintain continuity of care during refurbishment or rebuilds]
- Minimise disruption to patients and clinical teams
- Avoid service closures or delays caused by working around live environments
This requires solutions that are not only rapidly deployable but also fully compliant with HTM and HBN standards, adaptable to a wide range of clinical functions, and capable of delivering a seamless transition between permanent and temporary care environments.
Supporting NHS Trusts with Compliant Decant Solutions
For Trusts that anticipate estate works under the new funding, ModuleCo Healthcare can support with fully compliant, rapidly deployable modular facilities tailored for decant use, including wards, theatres, and diagnostics.
If your Trust is planning projects under the 2025–2026 Estates Safety Fund, now is the time to start planning how your estate will remain operational while work takes place.
We can help you:
- Plan your decant strategy early
- Deploy clinical infrastructure quickly
- Maintain service levels throughout estate improvements
A turnkey modular theatre solution, ready now
We currently have a fully HBN and HTM compliant modular theatre and 2-bed recovery suite available, recently off hire from Sulis Hospital, which is ideal for Trusts needing short-notice decant surgical capacity.
Contact us today to discuss your project timelines, facility requirements, and how we can support your Estates Safety Fund delivery plan.
sales@healthcarehire.co.uk
0151 355 5500
