The government’s June 2025 Spending Review confirmed £750 million of targeted investment for infrastructure repairs across more than 400 NHS hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites. The funding is part of a broader £1.2 billion package to address long-standing maintenance issues, including poor ventilation, a factor that has increasingly been recognised as essential to patient care and staff wellbeing.

In a new commentary, Matt Maleki, business development manager and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Specialist, Carrier UK&I, explores why this funding presents a timely opportunity to prioritise ventilation as a central part of healthcare infrastructure renewal.

“IAQ plays a critical role in healthcare environments. Ventilation affects everything from infection control to staff performance,” Matt Maleki said. “This funding opens the door for NHS estates to make meaningful improvements in how buildings perform for the people who rely on them every day.”

With the NHS estate repair backlog reportedly approaching £14 billion and many healthcare facilities still operating with ageing HVAC systems, Maleki notes that upgrading or refurbishing existing air handling and fan coil units offers a practical and scalable way to improve IAQ, particularly in older buildings facing issues with damp and poor air circulation.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has highlighted the links between poor ventilation and risks of airborne transmission. Structural deficiencies, such as leaking roofs and inefficient HVAC systems, can contribute to mould, inconsistent airflow and elevated energy use; challenges that persist across many hospital sites.

Maleki’s commentary urges estates and facilities teams to explore refurbishment approaches that pair system upgrades with monitoring tools and long-term service planning. He advises that smarter ventilation strategies offer an effective way to extend the impact of this latest funding round beyond short-term repairs.

“The recently announced funding offers a practical route to address persistent challenges with HVAC systems across healthcare facilities,” Maleki added. “It’s not just about repairing buildings, it’s about making them healthier, more resilient places for patients and staff.”

With new funding now available, Carrier is encouraging estates teams to act decisively, to triage building services needs in the same way clinical teams prioritise patient care. By identifying where ventilation and air quality improvements will have the greatest impact, trusts can turn emergency maintenance into long-term, measurable improvements in safety, sustainability and operational performance.

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