ICB identifies up to 30 unfit-for-purpose buildings

NHS Somerset ICB has identified 28-30 buildings that are not fit for purpose under an infrastructure strategy review.

NHS Somerset Head Office (c) NHS Somerset ICB

NHS Somerset Head Office (c) NHS Somerset ICB

The infrastructure review, which is part of the national estates plan, included hospitals, community, mental health, GP and dental services.

An NHS Somerset spokesperson said: ‘None of the buildings that we use to provide patient care are unsafe. Our focus is on delivering safe care. We have a maintenance and development programme in place within our existing budgets, and we have prioritised buildings according to their condition. We continue to review the use of all of our buildings.'

The ICB said it had a ‘mix of buildings of all different ages, from modern and flexible, to older heritage buildings that are more than 150 years old and no longer easy to maintain'.

The spokesperson added: ‘As part of the work to develop infrastructure strategies, all ICBs were asked to categorise buildings according to their condition, including identifying those which may no longer be fit for purpose. We identified 28-30 such buildings and are working with our partners including hospitals, to understand where we need to prioritise maintenance and programme upgrades including at Musgrove Park and Yeovil district hospitals as part of our wider estates strategy.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is awaiting the outcome of the Government's review into the New Hospitals Programme (NHP) at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The Government approved 21 NHP sites in September with a further 25 still under review.

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