St Helier Hospital faces £142m maintenance backlog
Annual repair costs are rising, with over £500,000 spent in the first three months of 2026.
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St Helier Hospital is facing a substantial maintenance backlog estimated at £142.1 million, according to figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The hospital has spent more than £7.9 million on day-to-day property maintenance since 2021, with annual repair costs showing a consistent increase.
Soaring Repair Costs
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Maintenance spending on the South London hospital has risen annually. In the first three months of 2026, over £500,000 was spent on repairs. Spending on building and engineering equipment repairs saw a significant increase, more than doubling from £275,783 in 2022 to £729,576 in 2023. Spending on building materials also rose by over 50 per cent in the same period. The Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust attributes these rising costs to the ageing estate, which first opened in 1941.
Despite a recent announcement of £57 million in investment for its A&E and urgent care services, local councils have called for an end to the current "patch-and-mend" approach to maintaining the hospital. Sutton Council has expressed concern about the hospital's physical state and its ability to provide high-quality services. Merton Council has also campaigned for a sustainable, fully funded plan to secure the estate's future.
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Future Hospital Plans Delayed
Plans for a new Specialist Emergency Care Unit next to St Helier Hospital have been significantly delayed. Construction is now not expected to begin until at least 2033, with completion not anticipated until 2037 at the earliest. This places the hospital in 'Wave Two' of the New Hospital Programme. The original promise of £500 million for new hospital builds has escalated in estimated cost, with current figures ranging between £1.5 billion and £2 billion.
A Trust spokesperson stated that the "crumbling estate is deteriorating faster than we can repair it, despite spending £60 million in the past five years." They also criticised delays to national funding, which have left local healthcare services in limbo. The impact of ongoing maintenance issues was highlighted earlier this year when the hospital planned to temporarily relocate its women's health block to allow for pipework replacement due to infrastructure concerns and the detection of low levels of Legionella and Pseudomonas.
Questions this report answers
+What is the estimated maintenance backlog at St Helier Hospital?
The estimated maintenance backlog at St Helier Hospital is £142.1 million. This figure represents the total cost to address outstanding repairs and upkeep for the ageing facility.
+How much has St Helier Hospital spent on maintenance recently?
Since 2021, St Helier Hospital has spent over £7.9 million on day-to-day property maintenance. In the first three months of 2026 alone, more than £500,000 was spent on repairs.
+When will a new Specialist Emergency Care Unit be built?
Construction of a new Specialist Emergency Care Unit next to St Helier Hospital is not expected to begin until at least 2033. Completion is not anticipated until 2037 at the earliest.
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