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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Gregory Health editor

More than 2,000 NHS buildings in England older than NHS, figures show

The grey facade of an NHS hospital, against a grey sky
Data shows that 34 of 211 NHS trusts in England have at least one in four buildings pre-dating 1948, when the service was founded. Photograph: Paul Slater/Alamy

Millions of patients are being put at risk in crumbling hospitals that are unfit for purpose, MPs have said, as figures reveal more than 2,000 NHS buildings are older than the health service itself.

Health bosses have repeatedly warned ministers of the urgent need to plough cash into replacing rundown buildings in order to protect the safety of patients and staff. The maintenance backlog has risen to £11.6bn in England.

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