NHS Digital has published the latest ERIC data for 2024-25 in October and the numbers present a stark snapshot of the costs and consumption trends across NHS estates.
Specifically, the report highlights the following key numbers:
- A total cost of running the NHS estate of £14.0bn for the year.
- Energy consumption across the estate at 11.3bn kWh.
- Estimated backlog maintenance liability of £15.9bn, the cost to bring buildings back to defined condition excluding planned maintenance.
- Cleaning services alone cost £1.6bn , while inpatient food services cost £0.8bn.
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “The continued rise in the NHS maintenance backlog bill is deeply worrying but unfortunately not surprising given the health service has been starved of capital investment for more than a decade. This has left the NHS with crumbling buildings and ageing infrastructure and estate in desperate need of extensive repairs that can be unsafe for patients and staff.”
Taylor noted that the scale of the rising maintenance backlog, up 15.7% on 2023/24, shows just how much of an impact private investment could make across services, including primary and community care.
“We are urging the government to reconsider allowing provider trusts the freedom to explore private capital investment opportunities to build new facilities, which would free up public funding to tackle the maintenance backlog,” said Taylor.
With 11.3 bn kWh used, the estate is a major consumer of power. With a £15.9 billion backlog, the infrastructure is ageing.
The backlog reflects the need to restore buildings to a defined condition based on assessed risk, excluding planned maintenance.
The ERIC 2024-25 dataset is a call to action. The NHS estate carries cost and risk, but also opportunity to shift from reactive maintenance and soaring energy bills to strategic investment, operational excellence and sustainable performance.