This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64653482
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| NHS battles sewage leaks as repair backlog grows | NHS battles sewage leaks as repair backlog grows |
| (2 months later) | |
| Sewage leaks are causing hospitals a host of problems as the backlog in repairs and maintenance grows. | Sewage leaks are causing hospitals a host of problems as the backlog in repairs and maintenance grows. |
| Hospitals in England reported patients slipping on sewage, staff becoming ill, and leaks in A&E departments, cancer wards and maternity units. | Hospitals in England reported patients slipping on sewage, staff becoming ill, and leaks in A&E departments, cancer wards and maternity units. |
| It comes after the repairs backlog grew by 11% in the past year to a total of £10.2bn. | It comes after the repairs backlog grew by 11% in the past year to a total of £10.2bn. |
| The reports have been released after a Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats. | The reports have been released after a Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats. |
| A total of 55 hospital trusts provided information - nearly half the total in England. | A total of 55 hospital trusts provided information - nearly half the total in England. |
| More than half had experienced problems with sewage leaks over the past year. | More than half had experienced problems with sewage leaks over the past year. |
| For some, they were isolated incidents, while others reported more than 100 leaks. | For some, they were isolated incidents, while others reported more than 100 leaks. |
| 'A national scandal' | 'A national scandal' |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals documented 105 incidents, including one in the respiratory day unit, and excrement coming through floor tiles, as well as overflowing toilets. | Leeds Teaching Hospitals documented 105 incidents, including one in the respiratory day unit, and excrement coming through floor tiles, as well as overflowing toilets. |
| The trust blamed ageing buildings as well as people flushing the wrong things down toilets. | The trust blamed ageing buildings as well as people flushing the wrong things down toilets. |
| The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow listed 40 leaks. In one instance a patient slipped because of a leak and, in another, staff were left struggling to work and feeling nauseous because of the smell of raw sewage. Both the resus area and A&E also reported leaks. | The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow listed 40 leaks. In one instance a patient slipped because of a leak and, in another, staff were left struggling to work and feeling nauseous because of the smell of raw sewage. Both the resus area and A&E also reported leaks. |
| Princess Alexandra Hospital said sewage leaks happened on a regular basis | Princess Alexandra Hospital said sewage leaks happened on a regular basis |
| Michael Meredith, director of estates at the hospital's trust, said the leaks were happening on a "regular basis" at the site, blaming the ageing buildings. | Michael Meredith, director of estates at the hospital's trust, said the leaks were happening on a "regular basis" at the site, blaming the ageing buildings. |
| "They are managed quickly and efficiently, but they are unpleasant especially where they occur in areas accessed by patients, our people or the public." | "They are managed quickly and efficiently, but they are unpleasant especially where they occur in areas accessed by patients, our people or the public." |
| He said the trust were waiting for the go-ahead for a new hospital to be built to replace the current one. | He said the trust were waiting for the go-ahead for a new hospital to be built to replace the current one. |
| Rory Deighton, of the NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, said there were many buildings across the NHS that were "in desperate need of repair as these shocking findings demonstrate". | Rory Deighton, of the NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, said there were many buildings across the NHS that were "in desperate need of repair as these shocking findings demonstrate". |
| "No-one working in the NHS wants this for their patients or staff," he added. | "No-one working in the NHS wants this for their patients or staff," he added. |
| He said the issue had been worsening for the past 12 years as spending on buildings has been squeezed. | He said the issue had been worsening for the past 12 years as spending on buildings has been squeezed. |
| The £10.2bn backlog is what needs to be spent to bring NHS buildings up to a good enough standard. | The £10.2bn backlog is what needs to be spent to bring NHS buildings up to a good enough standard. |
| Lib Dems leader Ed Davey said the situation was "unacceptable". | Lib Dems leader Ed Davey said the situation was "unacceptable". |
| "Our hospitals are crumbling through a lack of investment. It's a national scandal," he added. | "Our hospitals are crumbling through a lack of investment. It's a national scandal," he added. |
| The Department of Health and Social Care said it was increasing the amount of money spent on building and was in the process of developing a network of new hospitals. | The Department of Health and Social Care said it was increasing the amount of money spent on building and was in the process of developing a network of new hospitals. |
| "We are investing record sums to upgrade and modernise NHS buildings so staff have the facilities needed to provide world-class care," a spokesman added. | "We are investing record sums to upgrade and modernise NHS buildings so staff have the facilities needed to provide world-class care," a spokesman added. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sewage | Sewage |
| Health | |
| Harlow | Harlow |
| England | England |
| NHS | NHS |