NHS battles sewage leaks as repair backlog grows

Sewage leaks are causing hospitals a big of problems arsenic the backlog successful repairs and attraction grows.

Hospitals successful England reported patients slipping connected sewage, unit becoming ill, and leaks successful A&E departments, crab wards and maternity units.

It comes aft the repairs backlog grew by 11% successful the past twelvemonth to a full of £10.2bn.

The reports person been released aft a Freedom of Information petition by the Liberal Democrats.

A full of 55 infirmary trusts provided accusation - astir fractional the full successful England.

More than fractional had experienced problems with sewage leaks implicit the past year.

For some, they were isolated incidents, portion others reported much than 100 leaks.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals documented 105 incidents, including 1 successful the respiratory time unit, and excrement coming done level tiles, arsenic good arsenic overflowing toilets.

The spot blamed ageing buildings arsenic good arsenic radical flushing the incorrect things down toilets.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital successful Harlow listed 40 leaks. In 1 lawsuit a diligent slipped due to the fact that of a leak and, successful another, unit were near struggling to enactment and feeling nauseous due to the fact that of the odor of earthy sewage. Both the resus country and A&E besides reported leaks.

Michael Meredith, manager of estates astatine the hospital's trust, said the leaks were happening connected a "regular basis" astatine the site, blaming the ageing buildings.

"They are managed rapidly and efficiently, but they are unpleasant particularly wherever they hap successful areas accessed by patients, our radical oregon the public."

He said the spot were waiting for the go-ahead for a caller infirmary to beryllium built to regenerate the existent one.

Rory Deighton, of the NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, said determination were galore buildings crossed the NHS that were "in hopeless request of repair arsenic these shocking findings demonstrate".

"No-one moving successful the NHS wants this for their patients oregon staff," helium added.

He said the contented had been worsening for the past 12 years arsenic spending connected buildings has been squeezed.

The £10.2bn backlog is what needs to beryllium spent to bring NHS buildings up to a bully capable standard.

Lib Dems person Ed Davey said the concern was "unacceptable".

"Our hospitals are crumbling done a deficiency of investment. It's a nationalist scandal," helium added.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was expanding the magnitude of wealth spent connected gathering and was successful the process of processing a web of caller hospitals.

"We are investing grounds sums to upgrade and modernise NHS buildings truthful unit person the facilities needed to supply world-class care," a spokesperson added.