Over 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will receive £750 million to rectify essential maintenance issues, like leaky pipes, poor ventilation, and crumbling roofs.

Resolving maintenance issues in the NHS estate is key in keeping productivity high, as hospital services were disrupted over 4,000 times in 2023-24, including cancelled appointments, due to issues with poor quality buildings.

Over £100 million will go towards critical improvements in maternity units, such as replacing outdated ventilation systems in neonatal intensive care units.

Secretary of State for health and social care, Wes Streeting, said: “A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.

“We are on a mission to rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation.

“Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.”

A total of £1.2 billion, agreed in the Budget last year, is going into fixing faulty buildings, with a share of £470 million being award to 656 schools and sixth forms to carry out vital maintenance and repairs.