£9m repairs delay ‘puts care at risk’

More than £9 million of repair backlogs at hospitals across the region could be putting patient and staff safety at risk, it has been claimed.

According to the Department of Health, there is an £5.17 million outstanding maintenance bill at Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs Rochdale Infirmary, and hospitals in Bury, North Manchester and Oldham. The total includes £2.59 million of repairs deemed urgently needed to prevent catastrophic failure, major disruption to clinical services, or deficiencies that pose a threat of serious injury or prosecution across the trust.

A further £1.8 million includes work that if not done as soon as possible may pose a risk of injury or prosecution.

According to the Government data there was also £427,200 of work needed of moderate urgency and £321,000 was needed for less urgent repairs.

Pennine Care, which runs mental health services across the area has £2.3 million outstanding but no urgent repairs.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “In many cases, reduction of backlog doesn’t make financial sense because the buildings are due to be demolished.”

But the Tories claim ministers are ignoring spiralling repair bills and putting patients and NHS staff at risk.