Herts mental health hospital to benefit from its share of £1.2bn government funding
Kingfisher Court at Kingsley Green is set to upgrade its facilities as part of the government's Plan for Change
A mental health facility in Hertfordshire is among hundreds of other NHS sites across England set to receive part of a £750 million funding package aimed at tackling essential maintenance issues in the health service.
Kingfisher Court, located at Kingsley Green and run by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, will receive funding to replace 100 bedroom doors.
The upgrade is aimed at reducing ligature risks and improving patient safety, while also supporting staff working in the unit.
The announcement is part of a wider £1.2 billion government commitment to repair and upgrade NHS hospitals and schools in the 2025–26 financial year.
The funding was confirmed as part of the government’s “Plan for Change” initiative to address the state of public service infrastructure.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said the investment is part of a mission to “rebuild our NHS through investment and modernisation.”
“A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity,” he said.
“Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.”
Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession for NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS England, welcomed the new funding and said the focus must now be on delivery.
“Too many buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair, putting patient safety and staff working conditions at risk,” he said. “It is now vital that NHS England and local leaders deliver—every pound must be spent wisely, with clear accountability and a laser focus on improving frontline care.”
The upgrade at Kingfisher Court is one of several safety-focused projects announced across NHS mental health facilities. Others include roof repairs at The Harbour Mental Health Unit in Lancashire and safety system upgrades in hospitals in Oxfordshire and Staffordshire.
The government said that hospital maintenance problems led to over 4,000 disruptions to services in 2023/24.
By addressing longstanding infrastructure issues, the new funding aims to prevent similar occurrences and improve the resilience of care environments.
Work on the upgrades is expected to begin this summer, with projects delivered throughout the 2025–26 financial year.