MORE than £1 billion in repairs are needed to NHS buildings in Scotland, according to a major review.
The comprehensive survey of the condition of property shows the health service has 1000 buildings, but 36% are more than 50 years old, while just 15% are under 10 years old.
The figures come less than a week after it emerged that Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board (NHSGGC) faces repairs of £175 million to its estate.
The latest funding allocations announced for NHS boards in Scotland provide £8.8bn for running costs and £581m for capital funding next year. This was said to be the largest-ever amount in a single year and 16% more than in 2011-12.
It will be used to pay for major projects such as the new Southern General Hospitals in Glasgow, Royal Victoria Hospital in Edinburgh and replacing vehicles and defibrillators for the Scottish Ambulance Service.
That money is part of £2bn capital funding for the NHS over four years. As well as that, £750m of private funding, under a scheme capping profits, will be spent on new and existing NHS buildings over the same period.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This report will help us to improve Scotland's hospitals, and patients will see the benefits of £2bn-worth of new fit-for-purpose facilities across all health boards, renovations to existing buildings and modern equipment.
"For the first time we have a detailed account of the ongoing maintenance work needed on the NHS estate.
"This will allow us to set a benchmark from which to work to continue to maintain our NHS buildings."
Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said the £1bn maintenance backlog meant it is "increasingly clear that the SNP Government is not providing the necessary investment to keep our hospitals up to scratch".
LibDem health spokeswoman Alison McInnes said the NHS maintenance bill was "deeply concerning," adding: "The Health Secretary must explain how she is going to tackle this situation, before Scotland's hospitals and health centres get into any more disrepair."
Theresa Fyffe, director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said: "We highlighted our concern about the planned cut to the capital budget for the NHS when the budget was first presented."
Last week figures revealed that NHSGGC's renovation backlog includes £27m needed at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, £27.1m at Vale of Leven, Alexandria and almost £18m at the Royal Alexandra in Paisley.
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