The repair backlog at Watford General Hospital has soared in the last year amid “chronic” under-investment.

Last year's NHS Estates Return Information Collection report revealed a “shocking” £35,417,504 maintenance backlog at Watford General Hospital which councillors described as “completely unacceptable and utterly disgraceful”.

While that was bad, the same report for the 2023/24 period was released last week and it is much worse - with provisional numbers showing a £63.4 million backlog.

Watford General is one of 25 facilities being reviewed by the government.Watford General is one of 25 facilities being reviewed by the government.

Repairs judged to be ‘high risk’ account for just under £1million of the figure, while ‘significant risk’ makes up £24.5 million and there is a £31 million ‘moderate risk’ backlog.

The backlog bill is a measure of how much cash is needed to restore buildings to a good state and refers to maintenance work that should already have taken place rather than any that is planned.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says the figures underline the need for a new hospital in Watford, but funding doubts over that project remain.

Rebuilt Watford General Hospital plan impression.Rebuilt Watford General Hospital plan impression. (Image: West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust)

Watford Borough Council has continually called for clarity since the government announced a review of the New Hospitals Programme, of which the Watford General Hospital forms a part.

It is hoped that an update on the project’s future will come in the autumn budget on October 30.

A spokesperson for the hospital’s trust said: “As our local communities, employees and partners know, the current hospital estate has suffered from decades of chronic under-investment, and there is a significant backlog of maintenance repairs to buildings which are no longer fit-for-purpose.

“We continue to work closely with the government during its review of the New Hospitals Programme.”

The trust described its scheme as “well developed” and highlighted that planning permission is in place and the land for its new building has already been acquired.

This has allowed enabling work to clear the site to begin already.

The spokesperson added: “There is strong support both politically and within the local communities we serve for the new hospital and the case for rebuilding Watford remains stronger and more urgent than ever.”

The cost to eradicate the backlog of NHS repairs in England now stands at £13.8 billion, up 19 per cent from £11.6 billion the previous year, and more than the estimated total cost of running the whole NHS estate – which was £13.6 billion in 2023-24.

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