NHS repairs 'backlog' hits £4bn

Britain's National Health Service has been boasting that they have a budget "surplus." But a new report shows that they have a "surplus" because they have $8 billion worth of key maintenance repairs that have been left undone. That figure would be more than eight times more than their heralded "surplus."

Now Department of Health is saying, "Oh no ... that's not true ... because 'repairs' come under a different budget." Oh yeah ... that works. The arrogance and incompetence of government rears its ugly head. If this is true, that means that there is one budget that counts, and another one for those silly repairs.

The Health Secretary says, "Public health budgets, education and training budgets and now the basic maintenance and upkeep of our hospitals have been laundered to produce this surplus." According to the Health Minister, maintenance that affects patient care is "always prioritized" but now responsibility to repair hospitals suddenly lies in the hands of the local NHS. He says "low priority" maintenance work doesn't get done because it would be "irresponsible to disrupt patient services."

Why should you give a flying you-know-what? This is your future in America. This is your health care future. Watch the red tape unwinding. Count the excuses. How many people have taken responsibility for letting British hospitals suffer from basic repairs? I'll tell you how many: none. Because that it government. And that is the future of this country. You don't want to be responsible for your own health care. You want the government to do it. So get ready for delays, long lines, shoddy facilities ... the works. Just visit your local Social Security office. Look at those people sitting around while workers file their nails. Coming soon to a doctor's office near you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7060379.stm
NHS trusts have a £4bn backlog of key maintenance repairs which range from fixing heating to meeting fire safety rules, government figures suggest.
The figure is eight times this year's much-heralded NHS surplus, which was achieved by making a variety of cuts.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who obtained the figures, said they showed the surplus was a "sham".

But the Department of Health said repairs come under a different budget, and have no bearing on the surplus.

"Backlog" repairs are those needed to bring NHS property in line with various standards.

They include repairing roofs and fixing drainage, but do not cover painting wards or replacing furniture.

It is large city hospital trusts which have the greatest backlog, according to Hospital Doctor, which first reported the details.

Priority treatment

"The truth is that the NHS surplus, which the government enjoys boasting about, is a sham," said Mr Lansley.

"Public health budgets, education and training budgets and now the basic maintenance and upkeep of our hospitals have been laundered to produce this surplus."

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said urgent maintenance work that will affect patient care "is always prioritised", but he added that making this decision was up to the local NHS trust concerned.

There were occasions when "low priority" maintenance work was backlogged "to prevent disruption to patient services".

"It would be irresponsible to disrupt patient services to resolve them."

The Department of Health said that a leaking roof in an unused building would, for instance, be a lower priority that one starting to show damp in an occupied building.