Patients and pupils across England are set to benefit from nearly £1.2 billion in essential maintenance funding, as the government rolls out a major investment programme to improve the condition of hospitals, mental health units, ambulance sites, schools, and sixth forms.
The funding includes £750 million for over 400 NHS sites to fix long-standing issues such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation, and electrical faults, as well as £470 million for 656 schools and sixth forms to address crumbling roofs, asbestos removal, and other urgent repairs
This investment is part of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at reversing years of underinvestment and ensuring public services are safe, modern, and fit for the future.
In 2023/24, poor building conditions caused over 4,000 service disruptions in the NHS. The new funding will help prevent cancellations and delays, with over £100 million earmarked for maternity units, including upgrades to neonatal ventilation systems to improve care for vulnerable babies.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented:
“A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.
“We are on a mission to rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation.
“Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.”
The government has also helped with the delivery of 3 million additional NHS appointments since June 2024, and the modernisation of 1,000+ GP surgeries, enabling 8.3 million more appointments annually. This comes alongside investment in 13 DEXA scanners and £70 million in radiotherapy machines, boosting diagnostic and treatment capacity.
The Department for Education has confirmed a £2.1 billion investment in the school estate for 2025–26—£300 million more than the previous year. This includes:
- £1.4 billion to accelerate the School Rebuilding Programme, with 100 new projects starting this year
- Energy-efficient classrooms, upgraded sports halls, IT rooms, kitchens, and playgrounds
- Safer, more inclusive learning environments for children across the country
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said:
“The defining image of the school estate under the previous government was children sitting under steel props to stop crumbling concrete falling on their heads. It simply isn’t good enough.
“Parents expect their children to learn in a safe warm environment. It’s what children deserve, and it is what we are delivering.
“This investment is about more than just buildings - it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”
The first upgrades are expected to begin this summer, with projects delivered throughout the 2025–26 financial year.
Image credit: iStock
