Over 3 in 5 Brits are concerned about the safety and maintenance of our hospitals

Over 3 in 5 Brits are concerned about the safety and maintenance of our hospitals

A new survey reveals 30% of the public distrusts that hospitals and care homes are safe and in accordance with safety standards 

A new national survey has revealed that over 3 in 5 (64%) of Brits are concerned about the safety and maintenance of hospitals in the UK.

Concerns were raised over the government's efforts to maintain and improve hospitals in their area, with 30% saying they felt dissatisfied with the government's efforts and 30% distrusting that hospitals and care homes are safe in accordance with current building safety standards.

The Building Safety Survey 2024, conducted by SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, surveyed 1,500 people across 15 UK cities to highlight their perceptions of the safety and maintenance of local buildings in their area.

3 in 5 survey respondents shared that they are now more concerned about building safety following tragedies such as Grenfell Tower, with 21% stating their worries have ‘significantly increased’. 

The UK government has faced increased scrutiny following events such as the Grenfell Tower fire incident and the damaging use of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) causing nationwide apprehensions around building integrity. 

The findings reveal a clear leaning of the UK public towards prioritising healthcare buildings, with 74% of the public stating hospitals should be one of the UK government’s priority.

In fact, in all 15 major cities surveyed, hospitals rank first for the building type that the UK public believes should be the biggest priority for the government. Bristol was the city that ranked hospitals as the biggest priority for policymakers (83%) followed by Sheffield (82%) and Liverpool (79%).

Jason Instrell, Industry Lead at SFG20, shared his thoughts on the survey’s findings: 

“It is concerning to see the proportion of the British public concerned with the safety of hospitals and healthcare in their local area. Over the last decade, the UK has seen a string of events that have placed the maintenance of local infrastructure under a particularly intense spotlight. The introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022 saw stricter rules on the safety of buildings and it remains the UK government's responsibility to ensure the public feels safe and educated about the maintenance of these buildings.”