Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust has secured an additional £2.367m from the Estates Safety Fund to tackle critical infrastructure risks on the ageing estate.
The money is specifically being used for Torbay Hospital.
“We are determined to do everything we can to keep our patients and staff safe. This funding will help us tackle some of the most pressing risks, but the need for significant investment in our estate remains,” said Joe Teape, Chief Executive of the Trust.
The estate is among the oldest in the country, which places increased pressure on building integrity and continuity of services.
This funding will enable urgent upgrades to the estate, including:
- Ventilation upgrades for cancer services
- Water system enhancements
- Fire safety improvements
- Roof edge protection
The focus areas of ventilation, water systems, fire protection and roof safety, reflect the types of infrastructure items that often dominate compliance and maintenance backlogs in mature NHS estates.
The Estates Safety Fund continues to serve as a vital lever in mitigating risk in older hospital estates. It provides short-term investment for Trusts as they await major redevelopment under the New Hospital Programme (NHP).
For hospitals like Torbay, which is in Wave 2 of the NHP with construction not scheduled until 2030–2035, the Estates Safety Fund allows urgent upgrades to ventilation, water systems, fire safety, and roof protection.
In June, the Trust also secured £7.3m from the Estates Safety Fund to reduce critical infrastructure risks at Torbay Hospital.
The additional funding will ensure that patient care can continue safely and efficiently, bridging the gap until long-term capital investment delivers a fully modern facility.