HSJ Health Check What to do about the NHS’s capital drought
Apr 11, 2025
Zoe Tidman, a journalist specializing in health finance, reveals alarming insights about the NHS's new hospital programme delays, including £150 million potentially wasted. She discusses the shift towards community services and technology amid dwindling funds for major rebuilds. Tidman also considers the return of Private Finance Initiatives (PFI), weighing the pros and cons against past failures. Additionally, she touches on the recent appointments within the NHS leadership and their implications for the future of healthcare strategy.
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Wasted Hospital Funds
- £150 million was wasted planning "new hospitals" that might never materialize.
- This money could have been used for critical safety works and repairs.
Bigger Problem Than Wasted Money
- The wasted money is a small fraction of the overall problem.
- Outdated and inadequate hospitals pose a significant challenge to providing modern healthcare.
Increased but Insufficient Funding
- While there's more funding for building safety and concrete risks, it's insufficient.
- Trusts are now forced to prioritize essential repairs over nice-to-have refurbishments.