The NHS will receive over £1.5bn for improvements to its buildings, with £1.3bn for maintenance, safety and resilience projects across the NHS estate, including £32m for specific projects that are improving cooling and ventilation systems and strengthening hospitals’ resilience to extreme heat.

The announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care comes as the NHS attempts to adapt to increasing year-round pressures. For decades, hospitals have focused on preparing for winter demand, but periods of extreme heat and sustained pressure on services now mean it faces new challenges.

Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “For decades, hospitals have focused on preparing for winter pressures, but the NHS is now facing new challenges, including periods of extreme heat and sustained pressure on services throughout the year. This includes investment in cooling and ventilation systems to help hospitals adapt to more frequent periods of extreme heat, alongside hundreds of projects to tackle urgent safety and infrastructure risks across the NHS estate.”

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