Ageing infrastructure, underinvestment and increasing operational pressures mean that many hospitals and healthcare facilities are struggling to maintain compliance and safety standards.
The consequences of the record, £15.9bn backlog extend far beyond deteriorating buildings. In recent years, healthcare estates have seen fines from the Health and Safety Executive upwards of £500,000. Legal sanctions, extended asset downtime and budget wastage only stand to worsen the issue. Crucially, delaying essential maintenance work can cost up to 1.5 times more than completing it proactively, placing additional strain on already limited budgets.
In such a tough financial climate, securing additional maintenance funding relies on creating and presenting an ironclad business case to stakeholders that demonstrates compliance and cost-efficiency.
Les Bewick, facilities management expert at SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, will be hosting a webinar, alongside SFG20's Emma Hall, on December 9 at 12 noon, covering the real cost of the NHS backlog and how to build a robust business case to secure the funding that your NHS estate deserves.
Key insights will include:
• Ensure your asset register is fully up-to-date. Every asset across your estate must be accurately logged, categorised, and assigned to the correct maintenance schedule. The SFG20 State of Facilities Management 2025 Report revealed that only a shocking one in ten FM professionals had 100% accurate asset registers. An incomplete or outdated register undermines compliance reporting and makes it nearly impossible to justify budget allocation effectively.
• Evidence your maintenance costs. Detailed data is key to producing a well-rounded business case. The quantity of technical assets in a healthcare facility means that facilities managers must go beyond recording the total spend required, but also include the frequency, duration and manpower needed for each maintenance task. This allows for transparent cost forecasting and enables informed decision-making.
• Determine your compliance costs. Distinguish between statutory maintenance tasks, those which are legally required, best practice tasks that ensure optimal performance, as well as discretionary, or non-critical tasks. This separation helps justify essential requests by highlighting risk-based priorities that would have legal or safety impacts.
Les Bewick says: “Non-compliance within healthcare estates carries severe consequences, from fines reaching into the millions and reputational damage, to legal sanctions. NHS leaders must recognise that ensuring compliance is a fundamental responsibility to achieve staff and patient safety.
“Building a robust, data-backed business case is no longer a nice-to-have; it is essential. With NHS estates under unprecedented financial pressure, those who can evidence operational efficiency, adherence to compliance, and long-term cost savings will be in the best position to secure the additional funding needed to tackle the backlog and ensure patient care.”
Sign up to attend the webinar here.
Les will also be sharing his top tips for NHS estates managers to secure necessary funding at the University and Healthcare Estates and Innovation Conference on November 25 in Birmingham, at 10.30am.
