The high‑risk maintenance backlog at Craigavon Area Hospital’s Main Block has now soared to £18.7 million – more than double what it was in little over two years.
An updated total was received by DUP MLA Gareth Wilson in a recent response from the Health Minister, having previously raised concerns after a Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report put the high‑risk backlog at Craigavon at around £9 million as of March 31, 2024.
He said: “The scale of the high‑risk maintenance backlog at Craigavon Area Hospital is deeply concerning. I recently sought an update from the Health Minister and was informed that the current figure stands at £18.7 million for the hospital’s Main Block.
“This represents a significant increase from the £9 million figure highlighted in the Northern Ireland Audit Office’s Health Estates report, which related to the position as of March 31, 2024.
“To see the backlog more than double in such a short period of time raises serious questions about the condition of the estate and the resources being made available to address essential maintenance work.
“Craigavon Area Hospital is one of the most important hospitals in Northern Ireland, serving a large population across our local area. Patients and staff deserve to have confidence that the facilities they rely upon are safe, fit for purpose and properly maintained.”
The NIAO report, ‘The Health Estate in Northern Ireland’, previously revealed that high‑risk maintenance – work which the Department of Health says is likely to result in “severe consequences” if not carried out – totals £251 million across the health estate, with an overall maintenance backlog in excess of £1.6 billion.
High‑risk items can include roof and structural defects with a risk of leaks, internal damage or falling debris, electrical and mechanical faults, fire safety work and statutory safety issues such as legionella control.
The report also underlined that there is currently no long‑term, region‑wide strategy for tackling the mounting backlog, and that around £25 million a year has been made available since 2020‑21 – not enough to stop liabilities increasing.
In addition, the NIAO highlighted pressures within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s estate more broadly, including a relatively high number of underused properties and acute facilities such as Craigavon where significant maintenance liabilities have built up.
Reacting to the latest update from the Minister, Mr Wilson said he would be pressing for detailed answers on the nature of the risks now identified at Craigavon and on what concrete steps are being taken to reduce the backlog.
He added: “I will continue to press the Health Minister and his Department for further information on the nature of these high‑risk issues and what action is being taken to reduce this growing backlog before it has a greater impact on services.”
