Revealed: NHS Trusts experience the equivalent of three fires and almost one flood a day
NHS Trusts are experiencing the equivalent of three fires and almost one flood a day, figures show.
New analysis shows that the NHS reported 358 floods in the past year – a high number since records began and a 28 per cent increase on the previous year.
University Hospitals Nottingham and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire recorded the most flooding, 56 and 51 respectively.
They were followed by Princess Alexandra Hospitals in Harlow, Essex, with 36.
Last year there were also 1,102 fires reported across NHS Trusts – the equivalent of three a day – with 21 people injured.
The NHS repair backlog now stands at £13.8 billion, an increase of almost 20 percent on last year’s record figure of £11.6 billion
NHS Trusts are experiencing the equivalent of three fires and almost one flood a day, figures show
The Princess Alexandra Hospitals in Harlow, Essex, recorded the second highest number of incidents with 36
Central and North West London Trust reported 97 fires last year, the highest in the country, followed by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust with 93 and Somerset Foundation Trust with 83.
The NHS repair backlog now stands at £13.8 billion, an increase of almost 20 percent on last year’s record figure of £11.6 billion.
The ‘high risk’ backlog – where failure to carry out urgent repairs could lead to serious injury and major disruption to services – has reached £2.74 billion.
The Liberal Democrats, who carried out the analysis, called the figures “shocking” and called for investment to fix the country’s “crumbling” hospitals.
Their health and social care spokeswoman, Helen Morgan, said: ‘It is shocking to think that patients are being treated in hospitals and buildings that experience regular flooding and the possibility of a fire breaking out at any time.
‘The new government must now tackle the biggest challenge this country faces: saving our NHS.
“That must start with the budget, with any changes to the budget rules used to invest in rebuilding our crumbling hospitals.”
